Two people are dead after a car exploded on the U.S. side of the Rainbow Bridge that connects the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls.
While sources had reportedly said the explosion was an attempted terror attack and the vehicle was full of explosives, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) did not indicate that at a press conference several hours later, adamantly saying there was “no sign of terrorist involvement.”
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Two men in the car died after speeding toward a border checkpoint on the U.S. side of the bridge and hitting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection booth, causing the vehicle to explode and go airborne, Hochul said.
Sources had earlier told ABC News that investigators located some sort of briefcase or suitcase at the scene of the explosion, treating the object as a possible explosive device as a precaution, with a bomb squad handling the package. The New York governor, however, said there was no sign of explosives.
A Border Patrol officer who was manning the booth was evaluated and treated at a hospital for injuries sustained at the scene, and they were later released, the governor said.
Hochul had said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she had asked the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to “monitor all points of entry to New York.”
Earlier in the day, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said the vehicle was crossing into the U.S. from Canada, according to ABC News. A witness told WGRZ-TV that he saw a vehicle speeding toward the crossing from the U.S. side of the border when it swerved in an attempt to avoid another car and crashed into a fence, exploding.
ABC News correspondent Aaron Katersky said sources told him surveillance video showed the vehicle being stopped at the U.S.-Canada border before reaching the Rainbow Bridge. The car was transferred to a second checkpoint, at which point the video showed the car speeding up before it crashed and exploded.
Police investigated whether a second car was involved, but no other vehicles have been found or connected to the explosion, according to Fox.
BREAKING: High level local police sources tell colleague @AlexisMcAdamsTV that the vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in NY was an attempted terror attack w/ a vehicle full of explosives. Two men in car dead. I’m awaiting a response from CBP re: any injuries…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 22, 2023
The FBI in Buffalo, New York, said in a statement that agents are investigating a “vehicle explosion” and working with local, state, and federal law enforcement.
#FBI Buffalo statement on investigation at the Rainbow Bridge: pic.twitter.com/jRaGLL8sU8
— FBI Buffalo (@FBIBuffalo) November 22, 2023
In response to the vehicle explosion, the Niagara Falls International Airport increased security at the airport and rail system. The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday afternoon that the Buffalo Niagara International Airport was closed to all departing and arriving international flights.
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Photos shared with local outlet WGRZ-TV by a witness show the remains of what appears to be a vehicle, smoke, and flames.
#NEW: These are photos from the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls that were shared with 2 On Your Side by a viewer.
They show what appears to be the remnants of a car, smoke, and flames.
The FBI has confirmed it is investigating a vehicle explosion at the border crossing. @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/Xfdsq0GuJ0
— Robert Hackford (@Robert_Hackford) November 22, 2023
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the Rainbow Bridge explosion and that he and his team are “closely following developments.”
