No sign of terrorism in blast that killed 2 at U.S.-Canada border in Niagara Falls, governor says
Category: News & Politics
Via: perrie-halpern • 11 months ago • 13 commentsBy: Minyvonne Burke, Tom Winter and Jonathan Dienst
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A deadly explosion near the New York-Canadian border after a car went airborne has been referred to Niagara Falls police as a traffic investigation after no explosives or connection to terrorism were found, the FBI said Wednesday night.
Two people in the car were killed in the fiery incident on the Rainbow Bridge, which leads into and out of Canada at Niagara Falls, that occurred minutes before 11:30 a.m., officials said.
It happened on one of the busiest travel days in the U.S. as people across the country hit the road for Thanksgiving, and as there was a heightened awareness due to the holiday.
The White House closely monitored developments, an official said, and the Department of Homeland Security said it was in touch with Canadian counterparts.
"A search of the scene revealed no explosive materials, and no terrorism nexus was identified," the FBI in Buffalo said in a statement. "The matter has been turned over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation."
Those killed were not immediately identified. One of them was from western New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a news conference Wednesday evening.
The car, which officials have said was traveling at a high rate of speed, was on the U.S. side of the border when it crashed, caught fire and exploded, contrary to some early reports that it had come from Canada.
Hochul said she has seen video of the car, which was going at an "extraordinarily high rate of speed" before it went flying in an "absolutely surreal" scene. She said the car crashed into a median and struck a border crossing booth.
"When you see this video, your jaw will drop in disbelief at how this went so high, over an 8-foot-high fence," she said.
She stressed at the Wednesday evening news conference that there were no indications of terrorism.
Rickie Wilson, who works for Gray Line Tours, couldn't believe his eyes when he spotted the "airborne" vehicle. He said it appeared the car struck a cement median before it went flying.
"I first thought it was an airplane. Looked like slow motion," Wilson told NBC affiliate WHEC of Rochester. "And I said, 'My God, it's a car, and it's a vehicle, and it's flying through the air.'"
He estimated the car was 10 to 15 feet in the air.
"I mean, how did it get up there? I mean, this thing was up in the air," Wilson told reporters. "I know it sounds like I'm crazy, but the car was airborne, and not 3 or 4 feet — I mean, it was up there."
A Customs and Border Protection employee suffered minor injuries and was treated at and released from a hospital, a law enforcement official said. Hochul said that the employee was working in the booth and that "the booth literally protected that individual."
"This vehicle basically incinerated," Hochul said. "Nothing is left but the engine. The pieces are scattered over 13, 14 booths."
Hochul said the incident was "a horrific accident that led to a high-level anxiety all the way from western New York to Albany to Washington."
All western New York bridge crossings into the U.S. were shut down, the Erie County executive said shortly after the crash. Hochul later said all bridges had been reopened.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that security has been increased and that the "city is on heightened alert due to the upcoming holiday."
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said it would increase security systemwide.
Travelers at Buffalo Niagara International Airport were told to expect additional screenings, and vehicles going into the airport would undergo security checks, it said.
"The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Airports are fully operational. We advise travelers to give themselves time for these extra precautions in addition to holiday travel," the agency said on X.
Amtrak said Wednesday that its Maple Leaf Train from New York City to Toronto would terminate at Niagara Falls because of the incident.
Although an article about this was posted here about 13 hours previous to this one I'll get this one on the Front (Home) Page by posting the comment I did there.
I wonder if the vehicle were an EV, because the batteries have been known to explode.
I'm waiting for the official review of the incident before making any real judgement. The statement from the Governor that this was not terrorism was posted rather quickly after the incident and well before any investigation had any real data. The picture of what's left of the car can make someone go 'hmmmm' so I believe we need to wait for additional information.
Ok, just saw a report that the FBI did not find any trace of explosives at the scene. So they have turned the investigation over to the local police as a traffic incident.
I think it's going to turn out he lost a lot of money at a nearby casino and decided to end it all.
Then the right wing wonders why they are so misinformed.
fools rush in
Kari Lake is a fucking idiot and proves it every time she opens her mouth.
Oh, the chaos & misery!!
Kari Lake wrote:
The article said:
So Keri, maybe it's CANADA that should be concerned about a terrorist attack coming from America.
Pretty freaking weird, cars dont just explode like that outside of Hollywood.
Perhaps the fuel tank ruptured and the fast forward velocity caused an air/gas cloud that ignited.
Since it was an unusually massive explosion caused by a collision where the front of the car would have had the greatest damage, I thought that if the car were an EV, the battery that is usually up front and EV batteries have been known to explode might have done so and such an explosion would probably have ruptured the gas tank that is usually at the rear of a car and enflamed the gas in the tank, together causing what you suggested.
It was a Bentley and although they're working on getting an EV out it won't happen until 2025, so you're theory is most likely correct.