- A middle-aged white male with grey hair wearing a red sweater and tan jacket is seen pacing outside the United Nations building reportedly holding a shotgun
- NYPD officers are engaged in a standoff with the armed man
- The incident was reported at the bus stop at the intersection of E 42nd Street and 1st Ave; crowds of police officers have been spotted on the scene
Officers with the New York Police Department are in an armed standoff with the a man wielding a shotgun outside the United Nations building, police reported.
The man is seen on video pacing outside building in Tudor City, along the East River. The incident was reported at 10:39 am at the bus stop at the intersection of E 42nd Street and 1st Ave.
The white man assumed to be in his 60s has grey hair and is wearing a red sweater and tan jacket. The man is reported to have a shotgun in videos shared by the citizens in the area.
Police were heard saying: ‘Put down the gun. There are better ways to get your message out.’
Officers had their guns trained on him as they issued their warnings and attempted to negotiate with him. The man is reportedly threatening to harm himself.
NYPD confirmed that they are attempting to establish communication with the armed man.
Video from the scene shows the man pacing back and forth as he holds the barrel of the gun to his chin.
Two law enforcement officials say the man was seen muttering to himself and also has what appears to be a bag with him, CNN reported.
The bomb squad has responded to the scene were a heavy police presence has been seen.
NYPD issued a traffic advisory around 11am warning citizens to avoid the area as emergency vehicles are expected to surround the area. Traffic along FDR Drive has been affected.
An estimated two dozen emergency vehicles have responded to the scene.
Helicopters were heard flying over the area and a city bus has been used to block traffic uptown.
It was reported that Security Council diplomats left the chamber as the situation continued. All UN personnel and delegates at the headquarters have been instructed to shelter in place.
Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesman for the Security-General, issued a shelter in place warning with minimal information. The note simply states that a ‘security situation’ is underway and instructs its recipients to contact the NYPD for more information.
Originally published in Daily Mail (UK), https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10268185/NYPD-armed-standoff-man-pacing-United-Nations-building-gun.html?ito=push-notification&ci=Qt2IjCGvRL&cri=FjiZl8OrEb&si=51130755&xi=9f42082e-1c51-46b2-85e1-ffe769ddf76e&ai=10268185