Suspicious Package At Queens Mall Was A 'Hoax Device,' Cops Say

QUEENS, NY — A suspicious package that brought the NYPD's Bomb Squad to a mall in Queens on Monday appears to have been a "hoax device," police said.

Police gave the all clear just before 11 a.m. after emergency responders swarmed the Queens Place Mall for several hours.

Cops had been called to the mall just after 7:30 a.m. after 911 calls about a suspicious car with propane tanks and wires "protruding from the vehicle" in the parking garage, authorities said. The car, which was near Justice Avenue and 90th Street, also was leaking fumes, according to fire officials.

The NYPD and FDNY evacuated the mall and the area around the building as the Bomb Squad put on protective equipment and investigated the device, police said.

"They were able to clear this vehicle and determine it was not an explosive device although based on their expertise it appeared to be," NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism John Miller said at a press conference later that day.

"It was determined this was a hoax device, which means In their judgement it was set up to appear to be a device."

The mall was back up and running by around 2 p.m., according to officials.

Cops also rescued a dog from the car where the device was found, police said.