'Law & Order: SVU' urn prompts bomb scare in lower Manhattan

Caterers on the set of “Law & Order: SVU” caused a bomb scare in lower Manhattan Thursday that shut traffic for blocks after their urn of hot apple cider was mistaken for an explosive device, officials said.

The catering crew was packing up for the day after filming for the NBC drama when they momentarily left the urn wrapped in cellophane on the sidewalk near Worth and Centre Sts. outside Manhattan Supreme Court about 11:45 a.m., police sources said. The wire used to plug it in was sticking out of the top.

A worried passerby reported a suspicious package outside the courthouse. Streets were closed off to traffic as police investigated.

The bomb scare sparked alarm in nearby Manhattan Criminal Court, where the sound of sirens outside disrupted court proceedings.

The NYPD bomb squad showed up and quickly deemed the urn harmless.