The discovery of a potentially explosive substance at a New York City hotel sparked a massive police response Tuesday night and now police are searching for a man known to law enforcement.
At a news conference Tuesday night, New York Police Department Deputy Director James McCarthy said officers responded to the Hyatt hotel at 58th Street and Seventh Avenue after a hotel employee fell ill shortly after cleaning a room on the 11th floor around 1:20 pm
She reportedly found a white powdery substance in the bathroom, cleaned it up, and then felt nauseated and dizzy, eventually sending her to the hospital.
McCarthy said fire crews arrived on the scene and began clearing the room. Initial tests for explosive substances came back positive, but McCarthy said it was likely due to cleaning products being mixed with the power.
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Police were on the scene at a Hyatt hotel in New York City where an explosive was found.
(FoxNews)
The discovery of the potentially explosive substance led to the evacuation of the entire 11th floor of the hotel. An “all clear” was later given after further tests by NYPD teams came back negative for explosives.
McCarthy said the room was previously occupied by a family of five, but they dropped an access card before leaving on Sunday and it was picked up by a man known to police.
That man, who has not been identified, reportedly took over the empty room overnight.
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Police stand in front of the New York City Hyatt after a possible explosive was found.
(FoxNews)
Police are considering the man as a person of interest in the case. According to reports, he has already racked up 16 low-level arrests.
The NYPD said the man is not a threat to the city and they are actively looking for him.
Hotel operations returned to normal shortly after the incident.
Police were at the scene of a New York City Hyatt where an explosive was found.
(FoxNews)
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It is not clear what the powdery substance was.
