New York’s law enforcement and citizens were on alert after a device exploded in the Chelsea district of Manhattan.
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Numerous emergency vehicles are in the area, which is a major thoroughfare with many restaurants.
During the presser, officials said exact nature and cause of the explosion has not been determined, yet early indication show that it is intentional and no link to terrorism. Authorities said that the blast was apparently intentional, but that there was no immediate evidence of terrorism.
The Mayor also said at this point there is “no specific connection” to the incident in New Jersey earlier in the day in which an explosion occurred in a garbage can.
At least 29 people were injured after an explosion rocked Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood, late on Saturday night.
The FBI and Homeland Security officials, along with the ATF arson and explosive task force were also at the scene.
It was found on West 27th street, four blocks from the Chelsea blast.
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said Saturday that there is “no evidence at this point of a terror connection” to an explosion in New York Saturday evening. “There was an explosion earlier tonight at around 8:00pm (0000 GMT), several people injured”, a police spokesman told AFP.
State officials are coordinating our response with federal and New York City authorities, and full state resources have been made available for this investigation, Cuomo said. Mr.de Blasio said the police were investigating a device that had been found a few blocks from the explosion, on West 27th Street between Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“The president has been apprised of the explosion in New York City, the cause of which remains under investigation”. REUTERS/Rashid Umar Abbasi New York City firefighters stand near the site of an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, U.S. September 17, 2016.
Her Republican rival Donald Trump declared a “bomb went off” in NY before officials had released details.
NYPD has warned residents on specific streets to stay away from windows while they clear the area of a suspicious package as a precautionary measure.
Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, was also briefed about the NY explosion.
No information about injuries or about the extent of the damage was immediately available.
Political reaction to the blast has been immediate, with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump remarking: “It’s a awful thing what’s going on in our world, what’s going on in our country, but we are going to get tough and smart and vigilant and we are going to end it”. We’ll move quickly to correct the record and we’ll only point to the best information we have at the time. “It’s a bad thing that’s going on in our world, in our country and we are going to get tough and smart and vigilant”. “A full investigation is under way”, he said.
A spokeswoman for Trump did not respond to an email asking whether Trump was briefed about the incident before taking the stage.
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The blast came hours after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, shortly before thousands of runners participated in a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors. It caused no injuries but forced officials to cancel the event.
