NYPD investigating report of suspicious vehicle parked in midtown Manhattan

NYPD investigating report of suspicious vehicle

NEW YORK — The New York City police bomb squad is looking at a suspicious Mercedes parked in midtown Manhattan and has blocked off some traffic near the vehicle.

Pedestrian and street traffic was blocked on about 10 blocks around the car at about 4:30 p.m., but vehicles are now being allowed to travel again on Park Avenue.

The vehicle is parked near 51st Street and Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan, near St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Police say the car has been on the street since 6 a.m. Thursday and the trunk appeared to be weighted down. Authorities were unable to contact the owner and decided to check out the vehicle as a precaution.

Police say people who reported hearing an explosion were actually hearing the sounds of officers using tools to investigate the car.

New York City police get 90 to 100 reports of suspicious vehicles each day.