Met Opera Evacuated After Audience Member Sprinkles Ashes Into Orchestra Pit

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Metropolitan Opera House canceled the remainder of a Saturday performance after an audience member sprinkled a powder, apparently the ashes of his mentor, into the orchestra pit, police said, causing an evacuation of the building and a major NYPD response.

The man is known, but has not yet been arrested, according to police. At a press conference Saturday, John Miller, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, said authorities spoke to witnesses who indicated that the man was here from out of town to sprinkle the ashes of his opera mentor into the orchestra pit.

No injuries were reported and the material is still being tested by officials.

An "audience member ... sprinkled an unidentified powdered substance into the orchestra pit," the Met said on its Facebook page.

The venue was evacuated, according to Jane Lendovich of NY1. The incident occurred during the intermission of "Guillaume Tell."

Here is the Met's full statement:

Scene outside #METopera currently. 7 vehicles and ambulance on site. pic.twitter.com/BeU5O33ZQf
— Dylan Hayden (@Dylanhayden) October 29, 2016

This was my afternoon. We were in our dressing rooms wondering what the hold-up was - and then released from the rest of the performance. https://t.co/V6ggDBH63L
— Marie Te Hapuku (@kiwisoprano) October 29, 2016

Photo Credit: Blehgoaway via Wikimedia Commons