NEW YORK >> A coffee urn left near a Manhattan courthouse by caterers for the television show “Law & Order: SVU” caused a brief scare after it was mistaken for a suspicious package.

The urn was left in a red milk crate, wrapped in plastic wrap not far from the Manhattan state Supreme Civil Court building made famous by the long-running NBC show. Scenes were being filmed on the courthouse steps today.

Police say the caterers had too much to carry and left the urn. While they were gone, someone called police to say a possible bomb was planted near the courthouse. The bomb squad responded and the area was briefly sealed off.

Police quickly determined it was safe. The show had finished filming for the day.