23 November 2023 , 04:32
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Police investigating a car explosion at US-Canada border in Niagara Falls have confirmed no explosives were found in the vehicle. They've also confirmed it was not a terrorist attack.
Two people were killed and a border officer was hurt when a car exploded at a checkpoint on the US side of a US-Canada bridge near Niagara Falls, forcing the international border crossing to close in both directions.
A statement released by the FBI on Wednesday evening read: "FBI Buffalo has concluded its investigation at the scene of the Rainbow Bridge incident. A search of the scene revealed 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. The FBI thanks our local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their assistance, and we remain committed in our mission to keeping the public safe."
READ MORE: Rainbow Bridge blast witness saw '40ft fireball fly into air’ after explosion kills two
Witnesses said the car soared in the air before turning into a ball of fire (@KatiePurkiss /Twitter)The latest update comes as Buffalo Niagara International Airport reopens to arriving international flights and departures. FlightAware keeps track of flight information and says that as of right now, 21 flights have experienced delays at the Buffalo airport. Every day, about 100 aircraft take off from the facility.
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Arriving vehicles will go through security checks. When arriving at the airport, travelers should allow extra time, according to the NFTA. Witnesses to the explosion have described the scene, which saw government buildings evacuated over fears it was a terror attack.
Nearby government buildings were evacuated over fears the incident was a terrorist attack (WKBW)New York Kathy Hochul eased concerned residents at a press conference, saying there is no proof linking the incident to terrorism. "You actually had to look at it and say, 'Was this generated by A.I.?' because it was so surreal to see how high in the air this vehicle went and then the crash and explosion and the fire," she added.
Three additional border crossings in the vicinity were also closed as a result of the incident (China News Service via Getty Images)Witness Mike Guenther said he saw a vehicle speeding toward the crossing from the U.S. side of the border when it swerved to avoid another car, crashed into a fence and exploded. He told WGRZ-TV: "All of a sudden he went up in the air and then it was a ball of fire like 30 or 40 feet high. I never saw anything like it." 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."
The car was travelling quickly in the direction of the Rainbow Bridge from Niagara Falls. It spans the Niagara River to link the two nations. Three additional border crossings in the vicinity were also closed as a result of the incident. The 405 and the Peace, Queenston-Lewiston, and Whirlpool Bridges have since reopened.