Amid tensions with Iran, Trump Tower gets a 'suspicious package'; bomb squad activated

Donald Trump

A security scare at Trump Tower on Monday afternoon led to a swift law enforcement response after a suspicious package was found inside the building.

The discovery triggered the deployment of the New York City Police Department bomb squad along with the United States Secret Service, causing temporary traffic disruptions in Midtown Manhattan. Officials later confirmed that the item did not pose a danger. No evacuations were ordered and no injuries were reported.

Police said a 911 call was placed at approximately 4:20 pm ET once the Secret Service identified the package in the mailroom of the property at 725 Fifth Avenue. The NYPD told Newsweek that bomb technicians were sent to assess the situation and secure the premises.

By shortly before 6 pm, NBC New York reported that authorities had cleared the package, bringing the incident to a close.

Meanwhile, the United States Department of State on Monday urged American citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern nations immediately, including Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, as military exchanges between the United States and Israel against Iran intensified.

Mora Namdar, assistant secretary for consular affairs at the State Department, advised US nationals to exit the region through available commercial transport options, saying it was necessary "due to safety risks."

The travel alert followed a series of updates to advisories covering several countries across West Asia, recommending against travel. The latest warning applies to Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Earlier on Monday, the United States Embassy in Amman confirmed that its staff had left the facility "due to a threat."