CNN’s New York Office Evacuated After Bomb Threat – The Inside Story
On the night of Thursday, December 6th, CNN’s flagship newsroom in New York City was whisked away from the chaos of the city in a hurry that’d only a few moments after an ominous bomb threat rang out. Speaking to viewers just as the clock struck 10:30 pm local time, network staff began the decisive exit. The security sirens practically sang a lullaby, cueing a swift evacuation that had them ditching their desks for the street.
From the Air‑waves to the Internet: Don Lemon’s “Skype Surprise”
After the rumor‑filled roundabout of evacuation, CNN switched gears. As the usual live sign‑in peace‑plivers faded, the network resorted to pre‑recorded segments. An hour later, the show popped up on Skype, giving viewers a glimpse into the newsroom’s “glitches” – or the reality that the network was temporarily off the air.
An unmistakable air of candidness added the chat. “People were tuning in, asking why I’m on Skype and how the tech’s so shaky,” host Don Lemon explained. “We’re down because there’s a bomb threat that’s got us vacated. We know what you do too.”
Police Taunt – Closed Streets, Closed Doors
Almost concurrently, the police on the scene had to put together a police patch. The New‑York Police Department (NYPD) took a quick spin on Twitter to remind drivers and pedestrians that the Manhattan stretch between 8th and 9th Avenues – a.k.a. the heart of Columbus Circle – was effectively a no‑go zone. The tweet read, “Due to a police investigation at Columbus Circle, West 58th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue is closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Please avoid this area. Update to follow.”
Morning, Midnight – an All‑Clear Returns
As the night deepened, the city’s silence wasn’t the end. By midnight, the NYPD had given a green light. People were granted safe re‑entry, the newsroom resumed normal ebb and flow. Even the bomb’s shadow—so far—took a bow in terms of clearance.
- October prior: CNN’s office had already been evacuated after finding a suspicious package.
- Today: a new threat that followed a frightening “pipe‑bomb wave” attached to anti‑Trump hate rallies.
- Suspect: Cesar “Cee‑Sear” Sayoc, a Florida man who’s now in the sights with 30 federal counts on his name.
The implications are sobering: Sayoc faces the very largest penalty if convicted – life in prison. In the meantime, CNN never quite settles its watchful eye on the security of its own city. And from the inside, viewers see that tense, yet resolute, world living behind every ticker‑roll, every staff huddle, and a resilient newsroom that simply can’t stay quiet for long.
