The explosion happened in a garbage can around 8:30 p.m.in front of 135 23rd St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues.
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The investigation into what caused the explosion, who is behind it and what damage it has caused is ongoing, NY officials say. It has not been confirmed that the object is an explosive device. “Just before I got off the plane a bomb went off in NY, and nobody knows exactly what’s going on, but boy, we are living in a time”, Trump said.
“This is preliminary information”.
Filomena said she saw a “big black cloud in the sky”.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said early indications were that blast was intentional.
“We’re not going to let anyone change who we are or how we go about our lives”.
Police spokesman J. Peter Donald said He says several people were taken to hospitals with injuries.
Authorities said “extensive search” is being conducted in the area and the neighbourhood and ruled out gas as the reason for the explosion.
The explosion comes after a pipe bomb exploded in New Jersey Saturday morning along the route of the Semper 5k run. No-one was injured in that blast.
A report via the nypost told of a dumpster exploding and blowing out the lower windows of the a 14 story residence of the blind, the Associated Blind Housing.
According to police reports, the explosion occurred on 23rd Street around 8.30pm on Saturday, September 17.
Obama was “apprised” of the explosion and would receive updates on the situation as they become available, a White House official said.
Any confirmed attack in NY could impact the country’s already deeply divisive presidential election.
He is now in Houston, and will arrive in the city on Monday.
Witness Jakir Aussin, who works at a nearby Dunkin Donuts, described the explosion as a “deafening boom”.
“My first thought was, ‘Oh god, a bomb, ‘ so I got down on the floor”.
Watch: NY Mayor – Blast was “intentional”, but no evidence of terror. What we can be certain of is that authorities are pursuing every possible lead at this time. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pledged the complete resources of the state.
“Everybody get off of the street”, the shouted in the video as emergency vehicles arrived at the scene.
“I’m shocked right now”, she said, sitting on the median dividing Broadway.
Another device, reportedly a pressure cooker rigged with wires, was later found in the same district.
CNN reported that law enforcement sources believe an improvised explosive device caused the blast.
The explosion occured around 9pm local time, 2am GMT.
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One Twitter user posted a picture of a blown-up dustbin understood to be where the blast took place. “But then we realized something was wrong”. “We do not see a link to terrorism”, he added. Officials said the other injuries were minor, described as scrapes and bruises. Traffic has been diverted from streets in the area.
