They’re asking anyone with information to come forward.
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He is understood to have leg injuries and be in a critical condition – with some reporting his leg has been blown off.
An explosion in New York City’s Central Park left a man severely injured.
Mayor Bill de Bladio sent a tweet cautioning people to enjoy fireworks safely: “Fireworks are fun – but let’s leave them to the professionals”.
But the injured man’s friends told police they were visiting from Virginia and denied they were playing with fireworks. The New York Police Department (NYPD) said one person was injured.
A man has apparently lost his foot, according to eyewitnesses, after a small explosion rocked a part of New York City’s Central Park earlier this morning, and authorities believe it all has to do with fireworks.
Witnesses said the sound of the blast rippled through the park like a “cannon”, scaring birds off trees.
“He stepped on a rock or some object and there was an explosion that followed”, the spokesman said.
“We are on scene in Central Park at the report of an explosion”.
Authorities didn’t immediately identify the injured man.
Police dogs were canvassing the park for more possible explosives, the AP reported, and police were also examining a vehicle parked at Newark Airport that the victim used to drive to New York, sources told the New York Daily News.
At first people who had heard the explosion blocks away thought it had something to do with July 4 celebrations.
The funeral for Elie Wiesel was taking place nearby at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue on East 62nd Street. The man suffered serious injuries, possibly needing an amputation, and was taken to the hospital.
Deputy Police Chief John O’Connell aid the material was not an explosive device or related to commercial fireworks, but he did not give its chemical name or describe exactly how it was packaged.
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This post has been updated to include the results of the NYPD bomb squad investigation. The police were investigating.
