The vehicle explosion that occurred near a U.S.-Canada border crossing Thursday afternoon is not believed to be the result of terrorism, New York governor Kathy Hochul said early Wednesday evening.
Two passengers are reported dead after a vehicle exploded near the Rainbow Bridge border crossing separating the United States from Canada. A border agent was also reportedly injured in the attack.
Sources told Reuters that it is now likely believed that the blast was the result of reckless driving, contrary to earlier assessments of a terrorist attack initially reported by Fox News.
Earlier reports noted that anonymous sources had told a Fox correspondent that there was a high probability the crash was “an attempted terrorist attack.”
“The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a border crossing between the U.S. and Canada in Niagara Falls,” the FBI said in a statement following the incident. “The FBI is coordinating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. As this situation is very fluid, that’s all we can say at this time.”
A car exploded this morning at the Ontario / New York border near Niagara Falls, aka Rainbow Bridge pic.twitter.com/4e4R4vdYbl
— Tess T. Eccles-Brown, PhD (@TTEcclesBrown) November 22, 2023
The Ontario Provincial Police highway safety division confirmed that traffic had been halted on the Canadian side of the border zone, with broader highway closures being implemented to secure the area.
“We have major issues happening right now at the U.S. borders in Niagara region,” an OPP officer said in a video message released Wednesday afternoon. “If you are planning on crossing the border, please delay travel until we know those highways and closures have reopened.”
US/CANADA border closures in Niagara/Fort Erie. Stay tuned for updates ^ks pic.twitter.com/LKUm3DlmwD
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) November 22, 2023
“There was an explosion just by the tall building you go in,” one witness present during the blast told the Daily Mail. “When the explosion happened, we heard it like a loud boom. I heard it, but I didn’t think it was something serious. Someone said, ‘Oh my God, the car exploded.'”
“We all went to watch. Then the U.S. border and customs officials came out of their glass room, and then I grabbed my phone, said I need to film this before they start moving us away from here,” the individual added.
The Rainbow Bridge border crossing, which connects Niagara Falls, N.Y., to Niagara Falls, Canada, has been closed. Nearby border crossings, including Lewiston-Queenston, Whirlpool, and the Peace Bridge, have all been shuttered as American government buildings in the area have been ordered to evacuate.
“At my direction, @nyspolice is actively working with the @FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry to New York,” Hochul wrote on X shortly after the incident. “I am traveling to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement & emergency responders & will update New Yorkers when more information becomes available.”
The slain passengers were reportedly traveling from the U.S. to Canada on one of the busiest travel days of the year ahead of Thanksgiving.