Blast rips through New York City’s Chelsea district, injuring dozens
- 8 years ago
NEW YORK — An explosion caused by what officials believe was a homemade bomb tore through the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City injuring at least 29 people on Saturday night.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, the New York City Fire Department said.
The force of the explosion blew out windows and could be heard several blocks away, according to BBC.
Authorities believe the blast was caused by an explosive device in or near a dumpster, according to CNN.
The blast, which happened around 8:30 p.m., prompted the closure of a large section of Manhattan south of Midtown, the New York Times reported. On Sunday, 14th Street to 32nd Street was closed to traffic between Fifth and Eighth Avenues until further notice, according to the New York Times.
A second device, believed to be a pressure cooker rigged with wires, was later found several blocks away on West 27th street. It was later safely removed by the NYPD Bomb Squad, according to the New York Police Department.
“There is no specific and credible threat to New York City from any terror organization,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a news conference late Saturday night.
However, the mayor did go on to say, “we believe at this point in time this was an intentional act.”
Authorities said there appears to be no connection to a pipe bomb that exploded in a garbage can earlier on Saturday in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, USA Today reported. That blast occurred near a Marine charity run with no injuries reported, according to USA Today.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, the New York City Fire Department said.
The force of the explosion blew out windows and could be heard several blocks away, according to BBC.
Authorities believe the blast was caused by an explosive device in or near a dumpster, according to CNN.
The blast, which happened around 8:30 p.m., prompted the closure of a large section of Manhattan south of Midtown, the New York Times reported. On Sunday, 14th Street to 32nd Street was closed to traffic between Fifth and Eighth Avenues until further notice, according to the New York Times.
A second device, believed to be a pressure cooker rigged with wires, was later found several blocks away on West 27th street. It was later safely removed by the NYPD Bomb Squad, according to the New York Police Department.
“There is no specific and credible threat to New York City from any terror organization,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a news conference late Saturday night.
However, the mayor did go on to say, “we believe at this point in time this was an intentional act.”
Authorities said there appears to be no connection to a pipe bomb that exploded in a garbage can earlier on Saturday in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, USA Today reported. That blast occurred near a Marine charity run with no injuries reported, according to USA Today.