At least one person died in a car that exploded Wednesday, Nov. 22, at the Rainbow Bridge U.S.-Canada border crossing, the FBI announced.
The incident occurred just before noon in a car on the border bridge that connects Canada to New York state.
“This is obviously a very serious situation,” Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters on Wednesday.
“We are taking this circumstance very seriously, but speculating about the origin of this specific circumstance – the reasons why this may have happened – until we have more accurate information, is simply not responsible.”
The explosion on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday led to closures and delays on a busy travel day.
All four bridges between Canada and the United States — including the Peace, Lewiston-Queenston and Whirlpool — were closed, officials said.
The Peace Bridge reopened on Wednesday. Buffalo Niagara International Airport said travelers should expect additional screening following the incident, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said the airport was closed to departing and arriving international flights.
Four photos circulating on social media show the remains of a vehicle scattered across the American side of the border crossing.
Thick smoke and fire can be seen in the photos. One image shows a border guard hut with significant damage and charred debris next to it.
Videos reviewed by authorities show the vehicle entering the bridge from the U.S. side and then accelerating at a high rate of speed, according to multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. Previous reports indicated the car was traveling from Canada to the US.
The vehicle hit a curb and took off over a barrier, landing in a secondary search area, where it exploded, sources said.
Authorities are trying to determine whether the person to whom the car is registered and the driver found at the scene are the same person, but the condition of the remains has made it difficult for authorities to determine the identity of the driver.
The FBI, New York State Police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are on scene investigating. Federal authorities are trying to recover videos from several different angles because witness statements vary, the sources said.
The leaders of the United States and Canada have been informed and are closely monitoring the situation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she is heading to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement officials and emergency responders.
Federal authorities in Buffalo, New York, said “the situation is very fluid.”
The bridge was closed at 11:51 a.m., according to the technology coalition. Coalition camera footage showed fog around the bridge.
There are four ports of entry between Canada and the U.S. near Niagara Falls, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. All four were closed following the incident.
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com