Two dead after vehicle exploded at US-Canada border checkpoint near Niagara Falls, official says – live
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Two dead in vehicle that exploded at Rainbow Bridge, official tells AP
Two people in the vehicle that exploded at the Rainbow Bridge crossing between the US and Canada have been declared dead, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press.
The Associated Press reports:
Two people were found dead in a vehicle that exploded at a checkpoint on the American side of a US-Canada bridge in Niagara Falls Wednesday, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press.
The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Updated at 18.10 EST
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Summary
That’s all for our live updates today.
Here’s what’s happened so far:
Four border crossings between the US and Canada were closed after a vehicle exploded at a checkpoint on a bridge near Niagara Falls, killing two people.
New York governor Kathy Hochul said that after a preliminary investigation there was “no indication of a terrorist attack” in the explosion, which happened on the US side of the Rainbow Bridge.
Three of the four US-Canada crossings – the Lewiston, Whirlpool and Peace bridges – have been reopened after being temporarily shuttered. The Rainbow Bridge remains closed.
US Customs and Border Protection said it was working closely with the FBI and federal, state and local partners, and the White House said it was watching the situation closely.
Law enforcement officials have identified the registered owner of the vehicle involved in the explosion at Rainbow Bridge, according to authorities who spoke to CNN. Hochul said in a press briefing that it was an individual local to western New York.
The New York City police department sent NYPD officers upstate to “support efforts on the ground” following the explosion.
Several services were paused or otherwise halted. International arrivals and departures were halted at the Buffalo Niagara international airport, CNN reported the Federal Aviation Authority as saying. Amtrak suspended its services between New York and Canada.
You can find more in-depth coverage here:
Updated at 18.31 EST
Amtrak has temporarily suspended its services between New York and Canada, CNN reports.
According to CNN, Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said:
Amtrak has temporarily suspended cross-border service between New York state and Canada. Amtrak regrets any inconvenience to our customers.
Updated at 18.08 EST
Toronto police announced they will be increasing directed patrols of uniformed officers throughout the city following the vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge, adding:
This is out of an abundance of caution and there are no known threats for the city of Toronto.
Updated at 18.08 EST
Though Rainbow Bridge remains closed, three other Buffalo crossings have been reopened, according to US Customs and Border Protection.
Updated at 18.06 EST
Kathy Hochul emphasized that although this information is preliminary, there is no evidence “at this time” to point to terrorist activity. She said based on her briefings with various law enforcement agencies, there are no clear signs of terrorism including any online chatter or any particular group claiming responsibility for the explosion.
Updated at 18.07 EST
New York governor Kathy Hochul says no sign of terrorist activity identified after crash
Hochul, who has been briefed by various law enforcement officials, said “there is no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash” at a press conference on Wednesday.
She said they had “identified that this is a local individual, a western New Yorker”. The investigation is still developing.
“The world is watching to find out what’s happening here,” she said, citing “high stress” around the Israel-Hamas war.
“All is well, we’re investigating, but based on the preliminary investigation there’s no sign of terrorist” activity in the crash, Hochul said.
Updated at 18.07 EST
New York governor Kathy Hochul is about to brief reporters on the vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge.
We will bring you her latest updates.
Law enforcement officials have identified the registered owner of the vehicle involved in the explosion at Rainbow Bridge, according to authorities who spoke to CNN.
The car came from the US and was traveling towards Canada, a law enforcement source and another source briefed on the investigation told the outlet. CNN reports:
Law enforcement officials have conducted a video canvass of the surrounding area in the hours since the incident occurred and found the car appears to have been at a nearby New York casino before the incident.
This is one reason officials are urging caution in labeling the explosion as an attempted terrorist attack, the law enforcement source said.
Updated at 18.09 EST
US senate majority leader and New York senator Chuck Schumer just announced that he has been briefed by the FBI on the incident at Rainbow Bridge.
Schumer tweeted:
“Initial reports indicate the two people killed were in the car but nothing’s been determined on their identity or motive.
They continue to investigate—law enforcement remains on heightened alert over Thanksgiving.”
A suitcase was found near the car involved in the explosion at the Rainbow Bridge but did not contain any explosives, the New York Times reports a law enforcement official saying.
“A law enforcement official briefed on the incident said investigators believed the explosion resulted from the impact of the collision. The car went airborne and struck a cement pillar, according to the official,” the New York Times reported.