The iconic main concourse of Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal was closed to travelers starting Thursday afternoon in preparation for planned anti-Israel protests, authorities said.
“Access to the main concourse at Grand Central Terminal will be limited today due to demonstrations in the area,” the MTA said in a statement. “Please follow the directions of MTA officials or police. Use TrainTime to check departure routes as they may be subject to change.”
Dozens of police officers were spread across the station, many entrances and exits were blocked off with metal fences, and MTA staff were seen directing confused passengers.
A spokesman told The Post that no train delays are expected.
Access is restricted at the 1 Vanderbilt entrance, Lexington Passage and Graybar Passageway.
According to the MTA, commuters can enter the station through the entrance and doors at Vanderbilt and 42nd Street, as well as through door “105” at the entrance to the 4-5-6-7 subway lines.
Long Island Railroad and Metro-North Urged commuters “Build in extra travel time to access the terminal.”
The demonstration, called “Flood New York for Gaza,” was organised by the activist group Within In Our Lifetime.
The protest is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Pershing Square on 42nd Street in front of the station, but organizers had bragged ahead of the protest about limiting attendance.
By 5:45 p.m., about 250 people had gathered.
“We shut down Grand Central before we got there,” they said. Post to X“The NYPD is so afraid of our mobilization that they have blocked off station entrances and set up checkpoints.”
Pro-Israel protests are also expected at the transport hub.
Police are prepared to make arrests, law enforcement sources said.
