Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Train passenger reports suspicious packages that turn out to be machines used to report suspicious packages

MTA canine unit and county bomb squad called in to check dubious boxes

Vincent Wood
Thursday 31 October 2019 15:35 EDT
Comments
The bollard-like machines are a relatively new addition to the city’s subway system
The bollard-like machines are a relatively new addition to the city’s subway system (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

When they were dispatched to examine a suspicious package, it is unlikely that New York Police officers were expecting to find a machine used for reporting suspicious packages.

But that is exactly what they discovered when they were called out to the New Rochelle Station by a cautious commuter.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's canine unit and the Westchester County bomb squad were scrambled to the scene.

Officers quickly discovered there was no cause for alarm – lifting the cardboard to uncover ‘help point’ machines destined to be deployed elsewhere.

The bollard-like machines are a relatively new addition to the city’s subway system – offering a direct line to transport personnel for a variety of reasons, including the reporting of suspicious packages.

Images from the scene show officers laughing after uncovering the help points.

The equipment was left at on the New Rochelle platform were in the wrong location, and were not clearly labelled.

There is not believed to have been any disruption caused to the train line by the investigation

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in