Police: 'Novelty Item' Prompts Evacuation At World Financial Center
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspicious package that prompted an evacuation of 2 World Financial Center Thursday turned out to be a novelty item, according to police.
Around 11 a.m., police said workers were X-raying mail and discovered what appeared to be a hand grenade inside a package. It turned out to be gag gift -- a fake explosive with a sign reading "COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT -- Please Take A Number."
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports
Podcast
The bomb squad was called and the building was evacuated. Police gave the all clear around 12:30 p.m. and workers were allowed back in the building.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb On The Story
Podcast
While it may have been a false alarm, for many working inside the building, it was scary. Many workers trudged down 44 flights of stairs while the NYPD assessed the danger.
"I left as quickly as possible. I didn't want to stay in there," Juan Concepcion told CBS 2's Tony Aiello.
It's been more than a decade since the 9/11 attacks, which took place across West Street, but security concerns remain high.
"I was on the 18th floor and an announcement came on that it was not a drill, that we had to evacuate the building so we all started walking down the stairs," one woman told 1010 WINS' Stan Brooks. "You just try to keep calm and make it down the stairs and make it to safety."
"It was horrible to hear that somebody, even for a joke, would do something like that," another worker said.
Police said no criminal investigation will take place.
Please share your thoughts below...
