Suspicious Package At UES Department Store Prompts Bomb Squad: Police

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A suspicious package at the T.J. Maxx department store on East 59th Street prompted a large emergency response on Thursday, police said, though it was later deemed non-hazardous.

The incident began around 11 a.m. when someone "placed a metal drinking cup inside a changing room," an NYPD spokesperson told Patch.

It was unclear why that was considered suspicious, but an NYPD bomb squad was at the scene investigating, police said around 1 p.m.

In an alert, the city warned people to avoid the area and expect traffic delays and road closures.

Minutes later, police said the situation had been cleared up.