Thursday morning update.
FBI completes probe into Rainbow Bridge car explosion, says it was traffic accident.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it has completed the probe into the car blast at the Rainbow Bridge connecting the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls.
The case has been sent to local police who will continue to investigate the incident.
“FBI Buffalo has concluded investigation at the scene of the Rainbow Bridge accident. A search of the scene reveled no explosive materials, and no terrorism nexus was identified. The matter has been turned over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation,” it wrote on its X (formerly known as Twitter) account.
Previous story.
NIAGRA FALLS, Ny. (NewsFirst) – The FBI Buffalo, New York office has confirmed an explosion on the bridge at Niagra Falls between the U.S. and Canada. Called the “Rainbow Bridge”, a tweet on X from FBI Buffalo says they are investigating a vehicle that exploded on the U.S. side of the bridge.
4:20 pm CST: New York Governor Kathy Hochul during a press conference Wednesday evening indicates they have no additional information there are no signs of terrorist activity. Two individuals died in the incident. The person behind the wheel of the vehicle was from western New York. The vehicle, for unknown reasons at this time, careened out of control, went airborne and crashed into a customs booth, and burst into flames. The bridge remains closed for now with the investigation still underway.
Hochul says other bridges between the U.S. and Canada have reopened. She says at no time was the Buffalo International Airport closed as some media outlets initially reported. Hochul stressed multiple times during the press conference there are no signs of a terrorist attack “at this time”, based on her briefings by both Federal and State officials that have briefed her during the last few hours, but she stresses the investigation is ongoing. She says everyone is on edge with what is going on around the world, and it is important to communicate what they know so far as soon as they can.
This is a developing story. Stay with News First for the very latest as it becomes available.
Video from security cameras show the moment the car exploded. Here is the video update.
Photos obtained from a CBP source of the explosion in the secondary screening area at the Rainbow Bridge port in New York:
Multiple local news outlets are reporting and posting pictures of smoke rising from the bridge area.
Initial reports indicate two men were killed in the explosion.
There are unofficial reports that officials are searching for a second car.
The incident comes just hours after a terror warning was issued for New York in connection with the Israel-Hamas war.
All border crossing between the United States and Canada have increased security.
Four bridges have now been closed. They include the Peace Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, Whirlpool Rapids Bridge & Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.
President Biden has been briefed on the incident and it closely following the situation.
The car on the USA side was heading north and then crashed into the US border station at 100 MPH. This was followed by an explosion.
The car, traveling at a high rate of speed, hit a curb and went airborne and then crashed into the secondary inspection area. The car, upon impact, exploded.
This raises questions about why the individuals in the car accelerated to a speed of 100 mph. It raises questions about why the car exploded upon impact.
The car is in several pieces.
The FBI now is on high alert for additional incidents. Airports nationwide have been placed on high alert. We do not know if this was a terrorist attack or simply a car crashing into the border station and exploding.
It is possible this was some sort of accident related to a medical emergency.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been briefed on the situation and has said that he is closely monitoring the situation.
The prime minister went on to say that they are taking this situation very seriously. The decision has been made to close multiple other border crossings.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “At my direction, the New York State Police is actively working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry to New York.
Video of the incident has been posted on social media. Link to the video. Additional video here.
