Grenade left in Uber as anti-Israel protesters march through NYC — as NYPD struggled to reach device: source
An inert grenade was discovered in the back seat of an Uber in Times Square Saturday — which the NYPD bomb squad struggled to reach due to anti-Israel protesters blocking traffic, The Post has learned.
Several protesters marching up to Times Square as part of the Millions March for Palestine were arrested for blocking the way of the police vehicle as it responded to the scene, police and sources said.
Video released by NYPD shows a mob of demonstrators at Times Square surrounding a police vehicle before officers were able to push them back.
“Happy Saturday to all! Except the people who thought it was a good idea to block an NYPD ESU vehicle on the way to a bomb threat call,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry wrote in a social media post along side the video.
“They will be spending their Saturday where they belong – in jail!” he added.
After dropping off a passenger at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, an Uber driver turned around and saw a grenade in the back seat of his Nissan Altima, police sources said.
Cops eventually managed to establish a security perimeter around the car containing the grenade and closed off vehicle and pedestrian traffic on 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.
Police could not give details on the grenade but said it was inert.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.