Massive explosion at Niagara Falls bridge leaves 2 dead as car flies through air
Two people have been killed following a deadly blast at the US-Canada border in Niagara Falls after a car drove at 100mph towards a border crossing before flying into the air and erupting into a fireball.
Footage from the scene appears to show a car entering the US from Canada via the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls and heading towards the border officer building. A 27-year-old man has been taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, including cuts and pain in his back.
All government buildings were evacuated and Buffalo Niagara International reopened departing and arriving international flights after initially shutting them. Police were searching all cars heading to the airport for explosives and, while sources initially described the explosion as an attempted terror attack, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has tonight told a press conference there was "no indication of a terrorist attack". She added: "Based on what we know at this moment....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. Peace, Queenston-Lewiston, and Whirlpool Bridges are reopening, as well as the 405. However, Rainbow Bridge will remain closed this evening.
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The blaze was caused by a car explosion (@KatiePurkiss /Twitter)Eyewitness Mike Guenther said he saw a vehicle speeding toward the crossing from the US side of the border 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.”
From inside Niagara Falls State Park, Melissa Raffalo revealed she witnessed “a huge plume of black smoke” rise up over the border crossing, roughly 50 yards away from the popular tourist destination. “We didn’t hear the explosion because the falls were too loud,” Raffalow said. Police arrived soon after, urging visitors to disperse as they began cordoning off the street.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been briefed by Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor on the situation. “We are in contact with the U.S Officials. The Minister of Public Safety, RCMP and CBSA are fully engaged and providing all necessary support,” the prime minister's statement reads.
He added: "This is obviously a very serious situation in Niagara Falls,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Parliament, as he excused himself from Question Period in the House of Commons to be briefed further. “We are taking this extraordinary seriously." Trudeau said that “additional measures” were being contemplated and activated at border crossings across Canada.
Firefighers are at the border following the huge blaze (@KatiePurkiss /Twitter)The explosion came just two days after an intelligence report revealed New York was facing "an increasing terror threat" amid rising violence in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Joe Biden "has been briefed on the vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge," according to the White House "He and his team are closely following developments."
All four bridges between the US and Canada including Rainbow Bridge, Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and Whirpool Bridge were shut in both directions, according to the New York Fire Department who tweeted: "Canada/US Border closed at Niagara Falls, Rainbow Bridge due to a possible VBIED, car exploded."
A huge explosion has been reported at the US-Canda border (@NYCFireWire/Twitter)
Authorities are currently at the scene (@NYCFireWire/Twitter)But it is understood that Peace, Queenston-Lewiston and Whirlpool Bridges are reopening, as well as the 405. Rainbow Bridge will remain closed this evening.
The car crashed into a checkpoint booth at the Rainbow Bridge at high speed, caught fire and exploded into a ball of flames, according to WNBC-TV. Ivan Vitalii, a Ukrainian visiting Niagara Falls, told The Niagara Gazette that he and a friend were near the bridge when they “heard something smash.” “We saw fire and big, black smoke,” he told the newspaper.
The FBI Buffalo said they are coordinating with authorities and called the situation "very fluid". In a statement, it said: "The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a border crossing between the US and Canda in Niagra Falls. The FBI is coordinating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. At this situation is very fluid, that's all we can say at this time."
Black smoke was seen coming from the border (News 4 WIVB Buffalo)
Two people have been killed following the explosion (News 4 WIVB Buffalo)The City of Niagara Falls confirmed the bridge is shut as authorities attend to the scene. "The Rainbow Bridge is closed until further notice. There has been an incident involving a vehicle coming into the United States. Federal authorities are currently investigating the situation."
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was “closely monitoring the situation” in an updated tweet: "At my direction, @nyspolice is actively working with the @FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry to New York.I am traveling to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement & emergency responders & will update New Yorkers when more information becomes available."
She had previously said authorities were working with an FBI Terrorism Task Force to investigate the incident, tweeting: "I’ve been briefed on the incident on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls and we are closely monitoring the situation. State agencies are on site and ready to assist."
Images show the aftermath (One Niagara Welcome Center)
A car exploded at a toll checkpoint (One Niagara Welcome Center)Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it has responded to the scene: "ATF NY has responded alongside our partners at the scene of a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a border crossing in Niagara Falls. @FBIBuffalo is lead agency. Follow their account for updates as available."
Heavy security near the Rainbow Bridge after a vehicle exploded (PAT CRAY/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Ron Rienas, from the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, told ABC News all four Canada-US bridges over the Niagara River have been closed out of caution while the Rainbow Bridge investigation continues. An uncomfirmed police radio scanner said a "vehicle drove into Rainbow Bridge that caused an explosion." The bridge connects the cities of Niagra Falls, US, and Niagara Falls, Canada, and is located less than a mile away from the Niagara waterfalls.
The area has been closed off (PAT CRAY/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)About 6,000 vehicles cross the Rainbow Bridge each day, according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s National Bridge Inventory. About 5% is truck traffic, according to the federal data. The bridge, constructed in 1941, is just over 1,440 feet long and has a main span constructed of steel, according to the data.
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