By DPA
New York : Police and firefighters cordoned off an area in New York City’s landmark Times Square area to investigate an early morning explosion, reports said.
The New York Times in a news alert said the blast apparently took place in front of a US military recruitment station, located on the traffic island between 43rd and 44th Streets and Seventh Avenue and Broadway.
The paper said the explosion took place around 4 am (0900 GMT).
No injuries were reported, according to the television news network CNN.
But both CNN and the Times said subway traffic at Times Square was stopped, affecting around a dozen trains which serve the busy underground hub.
In addition, traffic was being diverted while the police and firefighters were investigating the scene of the blast.
CNN’s report cited two witnesses who had each told a local TV station about hearing a “huge bang” from their hotel rooms.