Election bomb scare for expats

– The French consulate in New York, where thousands of expatriates were registered to cast ballots in their presidential election on Saturday, was briefly evacuated following a bomb threat, officials said.

A suspicious vehicle prompted police to clear the building on Fifth Avenue, Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said.

“After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant,” she said.

Dozens of people who were inside the building waited on the sidewalk while authorities checked the vehicle.

The situation returned to normal after about 50 minutes, consulate press officer Amelie Geoff roy said. – AFP