Police discover submersible in East River

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York police discovered a submersible floating in the East River near a docked cruise ship on Friday and detained three men in what they said was not a terrorist-related incident.

The partially submerged spherical sub and a small inflatable boat were spotted approaching a security zone around the Queen Mary 2, which is docked at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Terrorism was not suspected, according to a police spokeswoman who did not give her name.

A police statement said there were two men on the inflatable boat and a third inside "a partially submerged vessel that appeared to be designed for underwater navigation."

"All three males are expected to be charged with a number of violations and both vessels will be secured by the Harbor Unit," it said.

The submersible had a small round hatch on top and appeared to be a replica of the Turtle, an early submarine used in the U.S. Revolutionary War.