Suspicious Package Reported In Front Of Cortelyou Firehouse
A report of a suspicious package in front of the firehouse on Cortelyou Road, between Westminster and Argyle, has shut down part of the street as the bomb squad has been called in to investigate.
Most officers and vehicles are concentrated by the north side of Cortelyou and Westminster, and at the moment, the street is shut down to traffic all the way to Coney Island Avenue. Buses have been rerouted (though we’re not quite sure where to, possibly Beverley like they were during road work last week).
Helicopters are circling above, but nobody seems particularly stressed at the moment — people are hanging out on the corner by Salahi, cops are chatting and not asking people to move further back.
We’re told that the firetrucks will have to remain in the station as this investigation continues, and that other fire companies in the area will be responding to any calls that come in for the time being.
Neighbor Judy emailed to add that “one fireman outside said the suitcase, which was resting against a garbage can, looked new which raised suspicion.”
UPDATE, 5:02pm: The bomb squad is on the scene.
5:15pm: You can see the bomb squad officer in his suit here in the center of the photo above. He was looking under the cars in front of the firehouse.
Neighbor David M. Haber took this great shot.
Antonio M. Rosario documented the whole event. See the blow-by-blow here.
The folks who had been hanging out at Salahi were moved across the street to the corner with the Tot Lot when the bomb squad arrived, before everyone was moved further back, down to Rugby Road.
5:27pm: The brief bit of chaos seems to be over. People are being allowed to walk through again.
We will continue to update this post as we learn more.
Top photo by @karl_ludvig
