Manhattan subway shut down: New York station closed over 'suspicious pressure cookers'

Police say devices are not explosive after diverting trains and clearing the transit hub

A subway station in New York City was evacuated and trains were diverted during morning rush hour on Friday as police discovered two suspicious packages near an elevator and platform on the lower floor.

Reports indicated the packages were pressure or rice cookers and were placed just 25-feet apart. Officers responded to initial calls at 7:20 am local time, police said, and the New York Police Department's Bomb Squad Unit was also called to investigate.

The NYPD Counter Terrorism Bureau posted two photos to Twitter showing the devices shortly after the station was cleared on Friday morning, writing: “Our @NYPDCT Bomb Squad has cleared the devices inside of Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan. They are NOT explosive devices.”

The Bureau added: “Out of an abundance of caution officers have searched nearby stations.”

The incident brought a massive police presence to the downtown Manhattan area, as commuters were forced to reroute and trains bypassed the station, causing extensive delays.

Police reportedly pushed commuters who were evacuated from the station, which contains a large shopping centre with eateries, nearly a block away from the area.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on WCBS-AM there was “suspicion” the objects were “placed there to suggest that they were electronic devices and possible bombs,” the Associated Press reported.

No injuries were reported and after an hour most trains had resumed normal service.

A third suspicious package was also reportedly probed by police in the Manhattan neighbourhood of Chelsea shortly after the two devices were discovered.

The NYPD posted an update at about 9:00 am on Twitter that it was continuing to investigate a “suspicious package” near West 16th street, warning people to avoid the scene and “expect a police presence and emergency vehicles in the area.”

Police later said they were looking for a suspect in connection to the devices found in the subway, posting photos to Twitter of a man seemingly holding the object in question while appearing to be inside of the station.