Crime & Safety
French Consulate in NYC Evacuated Briefly During Voting: Reports
The evacuation came as French citizens lined up outside the consulate to cast their ballots.
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The French Consulate was evacuated briefly on Saturday afternoon by the New York Police Department's Counterterrorism Unit, according to multiple reports. Authorities were responding to reports of a suspicious vehicle outside the building. The threat came as French citizens lined up to vote for nominees to run in France's presidential election.
Reports on social media said that 5th Ave was closed for a time between 70th and 78th Streets.
The French Consulate confirmed the evacuation in a Twitter post.
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Le Consulat a été brièvement évacué suite à une fausse alerte. Le NYPD a été particulièrement vigilant. Le vote a repris après qq minutes.
— French Consulate NY (@ConsulFranceNYC) April 22, 2017
Fin de l'alerte. Quartier du Consulat de France à NYC rouvert. La queue pour aller voter. https://t.co/wvRbDgGQTN
— (@EGuedel) Apr 22 2017
Earlier, the French Consulate posted video of the first vote being cast on Saturday.
Photo by wisegie via Flickr
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