The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into a vehicle explosion that rocked the Rainbow Bridge crossing on the US-Canada border on Wednesday, sparking fears of a possible terrorist attack. The fiery explosion, which left the vehicle’s two occupants dead, prompted the closure of all nearby points of entry as a precaution, but authorities indicate that there is no further threat of terrorism at this time.
Security footage taken near the Rainbow Bridge crossing in Western New York shows the vehicle speeding towards the border officer building, heading north towards the Canadian side. Hitting an embankment at more than 75 miles per hour, the car goes airborne and crashes into a concrete barricade, bursting into flames.
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Initial reports conflicted about the direction of the car and the precise cause of the explosion, but the size and severity of the blast led investigators to fear an act of terrorism. Mere hours before, CBS News had reported an increase in terrorist chatter about “targets in New York” in connection to the Israel-Hamas conflict. “Terrorist messaging has placed focus on attacking ‘soft targets’ such as protests, group gatherings, and other public events,” the report said.
As federal investigators and local law enforcement scrambled to respond to the explosion, three other border crossings in the area were locked down, as were nearby airports. However, New York Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement saying that there was “no sign” of terrorism and that a “local individual” was responsible.
“There is no evidence at this time that this was a terrorist activity. And that’s what I want to make very clear to the public,” Hochul declared.
The FBI was more tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation, stating that the agency is “coordinating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. As this situation is very fluid, that’s all we can say at this time.”
Statements from US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister indicate that both governments are closely monitoring the situation.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
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