CNN Bomb Threat: Time Warner Building Evacuated After Trump’s 'Fake News' Tweet

UPDATE: 11:56 p.m. — The New York Police Department put out statement regarding the CNN offices in New York being evacuated Thursday, following a bomb threat.

“Around 10:35 p.m. [EST], a bomb threat was called into the Time Warner Center & the building was evacuated. The threat has not been substantiated at this time; we’re on scene performing a comprehensive sweep-and-search of the facility. We’ll share more info as it becomes available,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, a New York Post reporter, Connor Ryan, who was on the scene, said the NYPD had given an all-clear after sweeping the building.

UPDATE: 11:40 p.m. EST — According to NBC-affiliate WNBC, the NYPD said the bomb threat at CNN New York offices and studios, which were evacuated Thursday night, was the result of an unsubstantiated phone call.

The caller reportedly claimed there were five bombs inside the building. A preliminary search by in-house security did not turn up anything. However, the NYPD was still conducting a thorough search as a precautionary measure.

“We were evacuated in the middle of my live show. Bomb threat. We’re running taped programming. NYPD is investigating. Stay tuned,” CNN anchor Don Lemon tweeted.

Original story:

The Time Warner building in New York City, which houses CNN’s offices and studios, was evacuated Thursday after a bomb threat was received via a phone call. The network switched to playing taped content instead of airing live.

“Everyone evac’d and is reported fine. Have to put safety first. Thanks for all the well-wishing, but even more so for not making stupid jokes empowering such a threat. People will re-enter ASAP. Onward,” CNN anchor Christopher C. Cuomo tweeted.

The New York Police Department is currently investigating the scene. "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,” the NYPD tweeted.

The news of evacuation came about half an hour after President Donald Trump attacked the mainstream media yet again with a short tweet. “FAKE NEWS - THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” the tweet said.

In a separate tweet before he once again labelled media critical of him as fake news, Trump rebuked the media for focusing on the Democrats taking back control of the House in the Midterm elections and not giving him enough credit for helping Republicans retains the reins to the Senate.

“Does the Fake News Media ever mention the fact that Republicans, with the very important help of my campaign Rallies, WON THE UNITED STATES SENATE, 53 to 47? All I hear is that the Open Border Dems won the House. Senate alone approves judges & others. Big Republican Win!” he wrote.

The fact that the president’s tweet was followed by CNN offices being forced to evacuate, caused outrage on social media.

In October, the CNN offices were evacuated after they received explosive devices in the mail, in what was a series of bombing attempts made against political entities including President Barack Obama and former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton. The suspect, Cesar Altieri Sayoc Jr., was arrested in Florida on Oct. 26 and charged with five federal crimes.