CNN newsroom evacuated for 'suspicious package' investigation

As CNN was reporting on the explosive devices mailed to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, a "suspicious package" investigation began in its own New York City building.

An alarm went off in the network's newsroom at the Time Warner Center on Wednesday morning, signaling an evacuation. The NYPD tweeted that it is "investigating a suspicious package in Columbus Circle," where the Time Warner Center is located, and CNN reports that a hotel and businesses in the area have also been evacuated. CNN President Jeff Zucker sent an email to employees confirming the investigation, adding that all CNN bureaus "around the world" were being checked.

The evacuation comes after Secret Service said Wednesday it intercepted "at least two" suspicious packages addressed to the Westchester County office of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the home of former President Barack Obama. Law enforcement officials say devices in these two packages were similar to an explosive found at liberal philanthropist George Soros' Westchester County home Monday, reports The New York Times.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

CNN was discussing reports of a suspicious package addressed to the White House as the New York broadcast went off the air. Secret Service has confirmed these reports were incorrect and no suspicious package was addressed to the White House. Watch how CNN handed its reporting off to its Washington bureau below. Kathryn Krawczyk