Metropolitan Opera House Evacuated After Man Spreads Human Ashes

A Saturday afternoon performance of Guillaume Tell was canceled as the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan was evacuated over safety concerns.

At first, it seemed to be some sort of technical delay, But the truth turned out to be a whole lot weirder.

ABC 7 says a man spread a powdery substance in the orchestra pit during the second intermission. Police say the unidentified man was caught on surveillance casually quietly spreading the powder, and then casually walking away without a stir.

Counterterrorism units entered the Met as the audience was told to leave.

So what was the powdery substance? According to witnesses, the man told some patrons they were the human ashes of his friend.

Police say they will test the powder. NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said:

I don't believe he thought he was doing anything that he was doing anything wrong or that he had a reason to flee.

While it's certainly unusual to see something like this while watching a live show, it appears the man was just doing one last favor for a friend. Police said that if it is human ashes then they're not even sure a crime was even committed.