Police, firefighters and emergency workers gather at the scene of an explosion in Manhattan on September 17, 2016 in New York City.
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Technicians in Quantico, Virginia, were examining evidence from the Manhattan bombing, described by witnesses as a deafening blast that shattered storefront windows and injured bystanders with shrapnel in the mostly residential neighborhood on the city’s west side. Officials in NY and New Jersey said Sunday they were still investigating who was behind the explosions and what the motivation was, while the Minnesota attack was being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
NY media said the vehicle’s five passengers were in custody for questioning.
Authorities said the Manhattan bombing and the blast 11 hours earlier at the site of a 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors in Seaside Park, New Jersey, didn’t appear to be connected, though they weren’t ruling anything out. St. Cloud’s police chief said investigators were “trying to get to the bottom of his motivations”.
Police did not immediately release the attacker’s name, and CNN hasn’t independently verified ISIS’ claim that he was linked to the group.
“In other words, we find no ISIS connection, etcetera”, said Cuomo in reference to IS, which is based in Iraq and Syria. USA media reported that it was planted in a dumpster on 23rd Street where major construction work is taking place. There turned out to be five devices in the bag.
A piece of paper with writing on it was also found next to it, according to reports. The FBI’s bomb squad then deployed a robot to examine the devices.
And investigators are analyzing possible similarities between two devices seized in NY and one that detonated earlier Saturday in New Jersey, including the fact that all three devices apparently contained old-style mobile flip phones, according to officials familiar with the probe.
It is not believed the two attacks were linked. Masum Chaudry, who manages a Domino’s Pizza near the scene, said the explosion “shook the whole building” and caused “total chaos”.
“Now we know from everything we’ve seen so far that this was an intentional act”.
“I was sitting in my apartment, and all of a sudden I heard a big boom, and I thought to myself wait a minute, it can’t be thundering and lightning at this hour, and then all of a sudden vehicle horns went off, and I thought oh my god this isn’t lightning, this is too loud – this is a bomb”, said Stanhope.
Following the explosion, Facebook activated its safety check service that lets users notify friends and family that they are safe.
Many have heard of the attack in NY.
A Joint Terrorism Task Force, made up of different law enforcement agencies, has been called in to investigate, indicating the authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a terror link. Law enforcement officials are working to identify who was behind the attacks in NY and New Jersey and we should give them the support they need to finish the job and bring those responsible to justice – we will not rest until that happens.
President Barack Obama was apprised of the situation, a White House official said.
The New York blast made an instant impact on the presidential campaign, with both candidates addressing the issue.
“Once again, we saw the bravery of our first responders who run toward danger to help others”.
Clinton’s Republican rival, Donald Trump, tweeted that he wishes his “warmest regards, best wishes and condolences” to the victims of the New York City bombing.
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New York, which recently marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, is to host world leaders this week at a meeting of the United Nations.
