Times Square Area Reopens Following Bomb Scare; All Shows to Go On Sunday

The Times Square area has now reopened following a bomb scare that caused police to evacuate thousands of people from the area last night. All Sunday Broadway shows will play as scheduled.

According to published reports, a dark green Nissan SUV was discovered on West 45th Street that was emitting smoke. The makings of a crude car bomb were found in the vehicle, but no explosion went off.

As a result, the police closed off the area from 43rd Street to 48th Street, and from Sixth to Eighth Avenues for much of the evening. The evacuation seemed concentrated on clearing people from the streets, while those inside buildings were not necessarily required to leave.

No Broadway theaters were evacuated, and most Broadway shows went on with only slight delays, although somewhat emptier houses, as patrons were not always able to get to their theaters due to the barricades. Following the conclusion of their shows, theatergoers were directed to exit the area, past the barricades.
A spokesperson for Disney’s The Lion King said that even that show was not canceled Saturday night, despite the fact that the SUV was found near the 45th Street entrance of the Minskoff Theatre.