By Jennifer Glickel, Nicole Bode and Mariel S. Clark
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
TIMES SQUARE — Throngs of New Yorkers and tourists were forced to evacuate Times Square Wednesday morning after reports of a suspicious van parked near Broadway and 42nd Street.
As people streamed out of the area the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes members of the NYPD and FBI, used a robot equipped with a camera to inspect the vehicle before sending in a member of the bomb squad.
Both the FBI and NYPD confirmed shortly after 1 p.m. that there was no threat.
Over a million people are expected to watch the ball drop in Times Square Thursday night, and preparations for the event were being made just one block north of where the vehicle was found.
“It’s frustrating and scary and I don’t know what to do right now," said a manager at the Times Square Duane Reade during the evacuation. "But I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
A fake police placard in red, white and blue sat on the dashboard. It claimed that the van was part of a detective's crime unit covering "Metropolitan New Jersey and New York." The van also had a Detectives' Endowment Association card on display.
Two back windows of the white Dodge van were covered with black scarves adhered with USPS branded tape. The interior was packed with debris and assorted goods, including a bundle of fake Burberry scarves and a folding table.
The buildings near the van, including ESPN Zone, Conde Nast and NASDAQ, were all evacuated. Police cordoned off Broadway between 39th and 44th Street during the incident.
"Due to the area and time of year it was an added concern," police said of the van. "The NYPD is always diligent in their efforts to combat terror."
Sean Jackson, an event planner, was supposed to pick up something in the ESPN building but could not get through the security perimeter.
"If there's a bomb threat, should I just go home?" Jackson asked his contact on the phone. He was told to wait, but said, "i'm not staying around here."
Workers at 1500 Broadway, around the corner from the van, were told on loudspeaker to stay away from the windows, but to stay in the building unless absolutely necessary.
The possible threat comes as America is on heightened security alert after a suspected terrorist boarded a plane bound for Detroit.
Jeff Edelstein was trying to make his way to work at 1466 Broadway when police cordoned off the area.
“I’m freezing my ass off," he said. "I work at 1466 Broadway and I can't get to work, but honestly, it’s only an inconvenience if it’s not a real bomb.”
