A subway station near New York City’s Times Square was briefly closed because of a suspicious-looking item. But the station has reopened after police determined it was just a toy lantern.

Police officers and dogs converged on the A, C and E lines’ station at 42nd Street early Monday afternoon. Trains on those lines bypassed that station, and entrances were roped off.

Riders were allowed to return around 2:45 p.m.

Passengers who emerged from the station in the meantime said police dogs sniffed at trash cans as about 20 officers investigated.

The A, C and E station sits beneath the Port Authority Bus Terminal at Eighth Avenue. It’s a block west of Times Square.

(AP)