New York police are investigating a possible bomb threat near CNN’s New York City office in Columbus Circle, according to the multiple reports late Thursday.
CNN host Brian Stelter said the cause of the road shutdown in upper Manhattan was due to a possible bomb in the vicinity of the cable network’s office at the Time Warner Cable building, which is across the street from President Trump’s Trump Hotel.
“The NYPD is investigating a bomb threat near CNN NYC’s office at Columbus Circle. Due to the threat, the office has been evacuated. Right now CNN is airing taped programming due to the disruption,” Stelter wrote on Twitter.
The NYPD is investigating a bomb threat near CNN NYC’s office at Columbus Circle. Due to the threat, the office has been evacuated. Right now CNN is airing taped programming due to the disruption.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 7, 2018
The cable network announced that it had evacuated at 10:30 p.m. EST because of a phoned bomb threat.
CNN’s New York offices and studios have been evacuated due to a phoned bomb threat, the company says. In the meantime, the network has gone to taped programming. https://t.co/4cR6kjgA20 pic.twitter.com/XqekxFfX0X
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) December 7, 2018
Fox News reported the suspect said over the phone five bombs were inside the Time Warner Cable building.
CNN sounded fire alarm bells. The network pulled “CNN Tonight” host Don Lemon off the air and went to taped programming before resuming coverage from outside.
CNN U.S. is back live, @donlemon reporting as NYPD investigates bomb threat at CNN New York offices pic.twitter.com/0t6bNDZuPt
— Donie O’Sullivan (@donie) December 7, 2018
The New York Police Department said a bomb threat was called into the Time Warner Center around 10:35 p.m. As of 11:42 p.m., the threat had not been substantiated and authorities were sweeping the building.
[New: NYPD declares all-clear after bomb threat called in about CNN building]
Around 10:35pm, a bomb threat was called into the Time Warner Center & the building was evacuated. The threat has not been substantiated at this time; we’re on scene performing a comprehensive sweep-and-search of the facility. We’ll share more info as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/VtLL2zmilJ
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 7, 2018
The initial reports came minutes after Trump posted a message on Twitter lambasting the media.
“FAKE NEWS – THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” Trump wrote shortly after 10 p.m EST.
FAKE NEWS – THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2018
The bomb scare comes seven weeks after the same CNN office was evacuated Oct. 24 when an improvised explosive device was mailed to the office. The cable news network was evacuated on live TV.
That package was one of more than a dozen that were mailed to Democratic politicians and donors nationwide allegedly by Cesar Sayoc, who at the time of his arrest was living in a van covered in pictures of Trump and right-wing imagery. The CNN package had been made out to contributor and former CIA Director John Brennan.
