A vehicle explosion occurred Wednesday at a checkpoint on the American side of the Rainbow Bridge, connecting the United States and Canada over the majestic Niagara River.
According to the AP, two individuals who were inside the vehicle were killed in the explosion.
Authorities, including the FBI’s field office in Buffalo and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, swiftly responded to the scene.
In the wake of the incident, immediate measures were implemented to ensure the safety of the public. Three other bridges connecting western New York and Ontario were promptly closed as a precautionary measure.
Additionally, the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport initiated stringent security checks on all vehicles, while passengers were advised to anticipate enhanced screenings.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his deep concern and indicated that “additional measures” were being activated at border crossings throughout Canada.
“This is obviously a very serious situation in Niagara Falls,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Parliament, before he excused himself from Question Period in the House of Commons to be briefed further.
The FBI’s field office in Buffalo, in collaboration with other agencies, took the lead in uncovering the cause and motives behind this act of terror. Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives joined forces, pooling their expertise to unravel the truth.
Eyewitnesses present at the scene Wednesday shared their harrowing experiences, shedding light on the intensity of the explosion.
Mike Guenther, who witnessed the incident, recounted to WGRZ-TVmoment a vehicle raced towards the border crossing, swerved to avoid another car, crashed into a fence, and erupted into a ball of fire.
“All of a sudden he went up in the air and then it was a ball of fire like 30 or 40 feet high,” Guenther told the station. “I never saw anything like it.”
Read: What We Know About The Rainbow Bridge Explosion, Attempted Terror Attack
The explosion consumed the vehicle, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Bystanders captured the incident on photos and videos, which circulated on social media platforms, showcasing the thick smoke, flames, and damaged security booths.
From inside Niagara Falls State Park, Melissa Raffalow said she saw “a huge plume of black smoke” rise up over the border crossing, roughly 50 yards (45 meters) away from the popular tourist destination.
“We didn’t hear the explosion because the falls were too loud,” Raffalow told The Associated Press in a message. Police arrived soon after, urging visitors to disperse as they began cordoning off the street.
U.S. Attorney General Attorney General Merrick Garland and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had been briefed on the situation, their offices said.
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