New York Governor Kathy Hochul said this morning that there are no signs of terrorism in connection with the explosion of a car on the bridge on the border between the United States and Canada.
“Based on what we know so far, which could change at any time, there is no sign of terrorist activity related to this incident,” Hochul said at a news conference, acknowledging that the explosion caused general alarm and led to “ a high level of dissatisfaction”. tension.”
The governor, who tried to calm the population, said the exploded vehicle was traveling at an “extremely high speed” and eventually crashed into a checkpoint at one of the busiest border crossings between the United States and Canada. one of the busiest days of the year as it was the day before Thanksgiving, a national holiday.
Kathy Hochul, who traveled to the scene of the explosion, confirmed the deaths of two people who were in the crashed vehicle and indicated that a border agent suffered minor injuries and was quickly released from the hospital.
After ruling out the hypothesis of terrorism put forward by the North American press and a Canadian politician, three land crossings between Canada and the United States were reopened, but the Rainbow Bridge – where the explosion occurred – remains closed.
The governor — who was impressed by surveillance camera footage that showed a car literally flying before crashing into the cabin and exploding — also indicated that a western New York resident was involved in the incident that developed at high speed, without to indicate whether he is the driver of the vehicle.
According to Hochul, the investigation into this incident near Niagara Falls will continue in the coming days, involving authorities such as the Federal Police (FBI).
This afternoon, Fox News reported that the explosion was caused by a car bomb, but investigators ultimately found no explosives in the wreckage.
The New York Times, which spoke to a North American law enforcement agent on condition of anonymity, indicated that the driver of the vehicle was a casino gambler who regularly crossed the United States-Canada border and had no criminal record.
Kathy Hochul could not confirm the origin of the car, but noted that “there is suspicion” that the vehicle may have been in the “proximity” of a casino.
Photos and videos taken by passers-by and posted on social media showed thick smoke, flames and a hut at the border post damaged by flames.
Witnesses said they saw a vehicle driving at high speed toward the border crossing on the U.S. side of the border when it swerved to avoid another car, crashed into a fence and exploded.
Before Kathy Hochul spoke, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was following the case and that it was a “very serious” situation.
“The situation is clearly very serious in Niagara Falls. A vehicle exploded on the Rainbow Bridge,” the head of the Canadian government had told parliament.
“There are still many questions and we are trying to get answers as quickly as possible,” he added, stressing that the Canadian government is in constant contact with North American authorities to “continue to receive information.”
Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre quickly attributed the situation to a “terrorist attack,” a scenario that North American authorities have already ruled out.
New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban assured New Yorkers at a press conference today that there are “no credible or specific threats to New York City.”
Source: DN
