Explosion on bridge on US-Canada border was not terrorism, says New York governor

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said there is no indication that the explosion of a vehicle on the Rainbow Bridge, on the US-Canada border, this Wednesday (22) was a terrorist attack. Two people died.

“It was not determined to be an accident. You don’t know if the driver’s action was intentional. (…) All I know is that it was a horrible accident – ​​I won’t call it an accident – ​​a horrible incident, an explosion, loss of life. But at this time, there is no known ‘terrorist connection,’” Hochul explained.

The explosion occurred just before noon local time. In addition to the deaths, a border patrol employee suffered minor injuries, he said.

The governor did not confirm where the car came from, but highlighted that “there are suspicions that the vehicle may have originated in the vicinity” of a casino. The vehicle reached an extremely high speed before crashing, according to Hochul.

“He is a resident of Western New York, who was likely in the area before reaching the unusually high speed that led to the collision with the median that caused the vehicle to become airborne,” he highlighted.

The incident comes on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday, a busy travel day.

All four bridges between Canada and the United States were closed immediately after the incident and reopened later, authorities said.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport said travelers could be subject to more rigorous screening, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration commented that the airport was closed to international flights.

Four photos circulating on social media show the remains of a vehicle scattered across the American side of the border crossing, with thick smoke and fire. A CNN geo-located and confirmed the authenticity of the photos.

One image shows a border guard cabin with significant damage and charred debris next to it.

Videos reviewed by authorities show the vehicle entering the bridge from the U.S. side and then accelerating at a high rate of speed, according to multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. Previous reports indicated the car was traveling from Canada to the US.

The vehicle hit a curb and took off over a barrier, landing at a secondary checkpoint, where it exploded, sources said.

Authorities are trying to determine whether the person the car is registered to and the driver found at the scene are the same, but the condition of the remains has made it difficult for authorities to determine the man’s identity, multiple sources told CNN.

The FBI, New York City police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case. Federal authorities are trying to recover videos from several different angles because witness statements vary, the sources noted.

Leaders from the United States and Canada have been informed about the case and are closely monitoring the situation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she is heading to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement officials and emergency responders.

*published by Tiago Tortella, from CNN

*with information from CNN and Reuters

Source: CNN Brasil

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