LIRR trains delayed when 'suspicious package' found; later deemed harmless

Several Long Island Rail Road trains between Island Park and Long Beach stations were either canceled or delayed during the evening rush hour Monday to allow authorities to investigate a suspicious package that later proved to be harmless, police said.

The suspicious package was reported about 4:30 p.m. at a bus stop near the Long Beach train station, officials said.

Long Beach police, MTA police and the Nassau police Arson/Bomb Squad responded, but it was determined that the package was "not a threat to the public," Nassau police said.

Sal Arena, a LIRR spokesman, said train service resumed about 5:30 p.m. The investigation resulted in the cancellation of two eastbound trains and caused delays to three others, Arena said.