Suspicious Package Outside Met Museum Deemed Safe

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A suspicious package outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been deemed safe, authorities said Monday, converged outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, about an hour after it prompted a large emergency response.

First reported shortly after 2 p.m., the incident caused police to converge outside the Met building, inside Central Park on Fifth Avenue near East 82nd Street.

The NYPD's emergency service unit and bomb squad were both at the scene, a police spokesperson said. Police could not immediately say whether the museum had been evacuated.

Authorities warned the public to avoid the area due to road closures and emergency personnel, advising drivers to expect delays in a city alert sent just before 3 p.m. Fifth Avenue was closed to pedestrians and cars between East 81st and 84th streets, police said.

Video on the Citizen app showed emergency vehicles blocking Fifth Avenue with police tape stretched across the museum.

By 3:55 p.m., police said the package had been deemed safe and that the street had been reopened, but warned of residual delays from the hourlong closure.

This is a breaking news story. Refresh for updates.

UPDATE: @NYPDSpecialops officers have deemed the package on 5th Avenue, in front of @metmuseum, to be SAFE.

Sidewalk & streets have reopened. Expect residual delays in area. pic.twitter.com/CvBK15QMh5
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) April 26, 2021

Police Activity: Expect traffic delays, road closures & emergency personnel near East 82nd Street & 5th Avenue, Manhattan. Avoid the area.
— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) April 26, 2021