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No terror link to NY odour
08/01/2007 18:05 - (SA)
New York - Authorities were investigating the source of a mysterious gas-like odour on Monday that stretched across a large part of Manhattan, prompting officials to suspend some commuter rail service to New York.
Hundreds of worried residents and office workers called in to emergency dispatchers and some office buildings were evacuated. Federal officials, however, said terrorism was not a concern.
"It is still early, but there is no indication of terrorism and there is no credible intelligence to suggest any imminent threat to the homeland or to New York at this time," said Russ Knocke, spokesperson for the department of homeland security, adding that the agency is monitoring the situation. Cause
The fire department began getting calls about the odour at about 09:00, said spokesperson Tim Hinchey. The cause was not immediately identified.
Across the Hudson River in Jersey City, Maria Pignataro, the spokesperson for mayor Jerramiah T Healy, said officials had been told the odour in their city was due to a gas leak in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. But officials from New York's office of emergency management could not confirm that.
The port authority of New York and New Jersey suspended PATH train service between New Jersey and the Madison Square Garden area in Manhattan.
"The smell was very strong. It was very scary," said Yolanda Van Gemd, an administrator at ASA, a business school near the Empire State Building. The school was evacuated as a precaution.
In August, a gaseous smell hit parts of Queens and Staten Island, sending seven people to the hospital.
Officials from utility company Consolidated Edison had no immediate comment.
- AP
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