Authorities said dozens suffered minor injuries.
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CNN, citing law enforcement sources, reported that it appeared to be a pressure cooker with wires attached to it and connected to what resembled a cell phone. City officials said police located the explosive device in the street next to a trash bin.
The blast occurred on 23rd Street, a major east-west thoroughfare in the fashionable downtown neighborhood of Chelsea.
The police commissioner also said the explosion took place on the street, rather than inside a building.
The blast occurred at 135 23rd St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues.
“Because of this I’m not terribly surprised that there seem to be relatively small number of injuries simply because at 8pm or thereabouts there just wouldn’t be that many people around”.
Remaining circumspect about the exact nature of the actual explosion, De Blasio said early indications were that it was “an intentional act”.
He continued, “But boy we are living in a time – we better get very tough, folks”.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton similarly described the incident as a “bombing”, reported ABC News’ Liz Kreutz, though she clarified that she had been “briefed” on the incident – and her statement came hours later.
Police are advising residents of the block where the device was found to stay away from windows facing 27th Street.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed the injury toll, saying there was evidence that the blast was the result of “an intentional act”.
The mayor also said there is no specific connection to a pipe bomb explosion in the New Jersey shore town of Seaside Park earlier Saturday at a charity run.
Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro says a total of 29 people were injured in the Chelsea blast. One is in a serious condition. Witnesses say the explosion blew out the windows of businesses and cars in the area.
A deliberate explosion rocked an upscale and bustling neighborhood of NY on Saturday night, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America’s financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
A police spokesman – J. Peter Donald posted a tweet on Twitter that the explosion in the area of 23rd Street between 6th and 7th avenues happened at about 8:30 p.m.
Chris Gonzalez, visiting from Dallas, was having dinner with friends at a restaurant in the area.
“We felt it, we heard it, the restaurant went real quiet, the 26-year-old Gonzalez said”.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that it was involved in the response and the Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms, Alcohol, and Explosives said that its explosive and arson task force was being dispatched to the blast scene.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – Donald Trump appeared to pre-empt New York City officials when he declared Saturday evening that a “bomb went off” in New York City before officials had released details. “The president will be updated as additional information becomes available”, a White House official said.
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Meanwhile, a pipe bomb has exploded in the neighbouring state of New Jersey, on the route of a road running race.
