New York City police have defused an improvised car bomb parked in Times Square, one of the city's busiest tourist areas, officials say.
They say propane tanks, fireworks, petrol, and a clock device were removed from a parked sports utility vehicle.
Part of the district - where many theatres are sited - was sealed off.
Both US President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the quick response by the New York Police Department.
"We are very lucky," Mr Bloomberg told reporters. "We avoided what could have been a very deadly event."
"We have no idea who did this and why," he said, adding that the incident was a "reminder of the dangers that we face".
Correspondents say New York City police are on constant alert after a series of alleged terror plots in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
Post je objavljen 02.05.2010. u 09:19 sati.