‘No sign’ of terrorism, N.Y. governor says, in vehicle explosion at U.S.-Canada Rainbow Bridge

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said there was “no indication of a terrorist attack” in the vehicle crash and explosion that left two people dead at a checkpoint on the American side of a U.S.-Canada bridge on Wednesday.

“Based on what we know at this moment,” she said, “there is no sign of terrorist activity in this crash.”

The vehicle was speeding from Niagara Falls, New York, toward the Rainbow Bridge. It connects the two countries across the Niagara River. The incident prompted the closing of the border crossing and three others in the area.

 

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story is below:

 

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A vehicle exploded at a checkpoint on the American side of a U.S.-Canada bridge in Niagara Falls Wednesday, leaving two people dead and prompting the closing of four border crossings in the area, authorities said.

There was no immediate information on the cause of the explosion, but it raised concerns on both sides of the border. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said officials were “taking this extraordinarily seriously,” and the White House said President Joe Biden was “closely following developments.”

The two deceased people were in the vehicle, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Several news outlets reported that a Border Patrol agent had been injured.

Photos and video taken by bystanders and posted on social media showed thick smoke, flames on the pavement and a security booth that had been singed. Videos showed that the fire was in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection area just east of the main vehicle checkpoint. The agency had no immediate comment.

The New York Times quoted Rickie Wilson, a 65-year-old tour guide who witnessed the crash: “It hit a concrete barrier and went up,” he said. “It came down and hit an inspection booth. Then there was a lot of black smoke, and then a fire.” Wilson added: “I know I sound crazy, but the car was in the air. And not three or four feet in the air. It was like something you see in Hollywood.”

Speaking to WGRZ-TV, witness Mike Guenther said he saw a vehicle speeding toward the crossing from the U.S. side when it swerved to avoid another car, crashed into a fence and exploded. “All of a sudden, he went up in the air and then it was a ball of fire like 30 or 40 feet high,” Guenther told the station. “I never saw anything like it.”

 

“This is obviously a very serious situation in Niagara Falls,” Trudeau said in Parliament before excusing himself from Question Period in the House of Commons to be briefed further.

The U.S. FBI’s field office in Buffalo was investigating the blast, along with other agencies. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was traveling to Buffalo from the state capital, Albany.

The blast happened on the U.S. side of the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the two countries across the Niagara River.

The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission called the incident “a serious car crash.”

The bridge and three others between western New York and Ontario were quickly closed as a precaution, and the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport began security checks on all cars and told passengers to expect additional screenings.

Trudeau said “additional measures” were being contemplated and activated at border crossings across Canada. And in Toronto, about 100 miles (about 160 kilometers) away, police said they were increasing patrols as a precaution.

From inside Niagara Falls State Park, Melissa Raffalow said she saw “a huge plume of black smoke” rise up over the border crossing, roughly 50 yards (45 meters) away from the popular tourist destination. Raffalow told AP in a message that police arrived soon after, urging visitors to disperse as they began cordoning off the street.

Raghu Bhattarai said by phone that he was inside his restaurant, the Niagara Tandoori Hut, near the bridge when he heard a sound he described as a “boom.” A few minutes later, he saw black smoke rising.

🚨#BREAKING New surveillance footage captures the moment when the car bombing occurred and exploded at the toll booth of the Rainbow Bridge on the U.S.-Canadian border in Niagara Falls. Authorities are now searching for a second vehicle linked to the terrorist attack. Nearby… pic.twitter.com/734v225XWp

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 22, 2023

🚨#BREAKING: A vehicle entering a toll booth at Rainbow Bridge has caused a large explosion to go off, prompting evacuations.⁰⁰📌#NiagaraFalls | #Canada

Currently, multiple authorities and emergency personnel are on the scene, with evacuations underway after a vehicle… pic.twitter.com/CGJnKIm6u5

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 22, 2023

BREAKING: Large explosion reported at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls at the Canada-U.S. Border. pic.twitter.com/yaJgs0k5Ao

— The Canadian Independent (@canindependent) November 22, 2023