CAMEROON – The opening day of the United Nations’ annual gathering of world leaders brought heightened security and a suspicious-package scare, adding to the disorder surrounding the U.N. headquarters in New York.
Apparently in response to escalating threats, U.N. security officials required all staff members and lower-ranking diplomats to have their belongings screened for the first time.
Only two scanners were available for the hundreds of people entering through the staff entrance between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday, when the meeting began. The resulting queues caused lengthy delays, leaving some people frantic.
Motorcades transporting presidents, prime ministers and monarchs received priority on nearby streets, bringing traffic to a standstill at times.
First Avenue, which runs uptown alongside the U.N. complex, was closed to regular traffic and reserved for motorcades. As a result, many vehicles heading uptown shifted to the nearest alternative, Third Avenue.
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Police later shut down Third Avenue as well, after a suspicious-package report emerged in the middle of Tuesday afternoon, creating even greater traffic problems for New Yorkers.
Police said they received a call at about 3 p.m. Tuesday regarding a suspicious package near East 43rd Street and Third Avenue. A bomb squad and other officers were dispatched to the area.
Authorities determined that the object was harmless, police said.
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