Federal authorities on Wednesday scrambled to respond to an explosion at Rainbow Bridge, which connects the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls, involving a speeding vehicle crossing into the U.S.
The explosion happened on the U.S. side of the bridge when the car crashed into the checkpoint structure. The car’s two occupants were discovered dead, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who said he’d just been briefed by the FBI.
The explosion injured a Border Patrol officer as well, The New York Times reported.
Kathy Hochul, the New York Governor, traveled to the site and said and the FBI had been dispatched to the scene as well as K-9 officers, who were stationed on either side of the international bridges as a precautionary measure.
During a press conference Wednesday evening, Hochul said, “There was a horrific incident, a crash, an explosion, loss of life. But at this time, no known terrorist connection.”
Hochul said the speeding car careened over an eight-foot fence before bursting into flames and smoke in a scene she said looked as though it were “generated by A.I.” Only the car’s engine was left somewhat intact, she added.
The FBI late Wednesday night concluded its investigation, writing in a statement that, “A search of the scene revealed no explosive materials, and no terrorism nexus was identified.” The investigation was turned over to local authorities and relabeled a traffic investigation.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion and is monitoring the incident, per a White House pool report. Biden is in Nantucket ahead of Thanksgiving celebrations with family.
Rainbow Bridge and three other border crossings were closed, “Out of [an] abundance of caution,” U.S. Customs and Border Patrol wrote on X, adding that the three other crossings had since reopened.
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said in a statement that “The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Airports are fully operational,” and that travelers may face additional screenings.
The New York State Police was working with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to surveil the entrances into New York at Hochul’s direction, she said in a statement.
