Police give all-clear in CNN bomb threat

NEW YORK — Police gave the all-clear Thursday night after a phoned-in bomb threat forced the evacuation of CNN’s offices in New York.

Police said a man with a southern accent called CNN just after 10 p.m. Thursday and said five bombs had been placed throughout the facility inside the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle.

Police said the building was evacuated and building security did a preliminary search. Police units then swept the building with the New York Police Department bomb squad on standby. Outside the building, CNN’s Brian Stelter and Don Lemon continued to broadcast. Lemon said fire alarms rang and a loudspeaker told them they needed to evacuate during his live show.

In October, the building was partially evacuated after a suspicious package containing a crude pipe bomb was delivered to the company.

AP/CRAIG RUTTLE New York City police officers stand by as people re-enter the Time Warner Center after Thursday’s bomb threat.