Pro-Palestine protesters block police from reaching grenade in Uber during Times Square march

An explosive device was discovered in the back seat of an Uber in Times Square but New York Police struggled to reach it due to a blockade of ceasefire protesters.

An inert grenade was discovered in the back seat of an Uber in Times Square — which the NYPD bomb squad struggled to reach due to anti-Israel protesters blocking traffic.

Several protesters marching up to Times Square as part of the Millions March for Palestine on Saturday were arrested for blocking the way of the police vehicle as it responded to the scene, police and sources said, according to the New York Post.

Video released by NYPD shows a mob of demonstrators at Times Square surrounding a police vehicle before officers were able to push them back.

Palestinian protesters reportedly blocked New York City police from reaching an Uber that had reported a hand grenade in its back seat. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

People have been participating in protests despite a rainstorm and joined in a demonstration and march to demand that Israel end its war in Gaza and agree to a ceasefire.

“Happy Saturday to all! Except the people who thought it was a good idea to block an NYPD ESU vehicle on the way to a bomb threat call,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry wrote in a social media post along side the video.

This is dangerous! One day when the “call” is real and people get hurt , then what? I will tell you what…..silence and cowardice from all the people who advocate for protesters to be allowed to disrupt the streets. Then the first responders will arrive to do the best they can!… https://t.co/VmN46OOInS

— NYPD Chief of Patrol (@NYPDChiefPatrol) March 3, 2024

“They will be spending their Saturday where they belong – in jail!” he added.

After dropping off a passenger at 42nd Street and 7th Ave, an Uber driver turned around and saw a grenade in the back seat of his Nissan Altima, police sources said.

Police eventually managed to establish a security perimeter around the car containing the grenade and closed off vehicle and pedestrian traffic on 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Manhattan.

Police gather as people participate in a demonstration and march to demand that Israel end its war in Gaza and agree to a ceasefire. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

It comes as Britain’s home secretary told pro-Palestinian protesters to stop their regular rallies because they have “made their point” about Gaza and they are putting a huge pressure on policing.

James Cleverly said that the demonstrations calling for a ceasefire, being held every fortnight in central London, were “not really saying anything new”.

“I think the organisers should recognise that they’ve made their point, they’ve made it loudly and they’re not adding to it by repeating themselves,” Cleverly said, the Times UK reports.

He added that the government would consider changing protest rules to require organisations of a demonstration to give police more than the present six days’ notice.

Families calling for a ceasefire march to Parliament in London, England. Picture: Getty Images

Last weekend police had to close Tower Bridge to vehicles and pedestrians after demonstrators lit flares as they demanded a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Times reported pro-Palestinian demonstrators are planning to occupy branches of Barclays this Saturday, calling for a boycott of the bank over its historical links to Israel.

A report from the home affairs committee said that more than 25 million pounds had been spent to police pro-Palestinian protests between October 7 and December 17, with pounds 19 million spent by Scotland Yard and another pounds 6.5 million spent by forces outside the capital.

The committee said the marches were “draining” the police’s resources and preventing their ability to respond to neighbourhood crime. Matt Twist, an assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has said the protests have led to the greatest period of sustained pressure on the force since the London Olympics in 2012.

Originally published as Pro-Palestine protesters block police from reaching grenade in Uber during Times Square march