Governor: No indication of terror threat on US-Canada bridge

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9:12 p.m. ET, November 22, 2023

No indication of terrorism after explosion on US-Canada bridge. Here’s what we know so far

From CNN staff

Police blockade roads after an explosion at the Rainbow Bridge US border crossing with Canada in Niagara Falls, New York, on Wednesday.

Lindsay DeDario/Reuters

There is no indication of terrorism after an explosion killed two people in a car that crashed at the US-Canada Rainbow Bridge border crossing on Wednesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

All four bridges between Canada and the United States near Niagara Falls were closed immediately after the incident, according to the governor. The Peace, Whirlpool and Lewiston-Queenston bridges reopened later Wednesday, while the Rainbow Bridge remained closed, she said.

Asked why the FBI believes there isn’t a threat of terrorism, Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia said, “We do have someone in mind for it and we’re working through it through the JTTF,” a reference to the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

High-speed vehicle: Videos reviewed by authorities of the scene show the vehicle entering the bridge on the US side just before noon ET and then accelerating at a high rate of speed, according to multiple law enforcement sources. The vehicle hit a curb and went airborne over a barrier and exploded, they said. Footage on social media and from surveillance cameras shows the remains strewn about with thick smoke and fire billowing. A border patrol employee in a booth also suffered minor injuries, Hochul said.

Leaders briefed: The leaders of both the United States and Canada were briefed on the incident. “We didn’t know if it was a terrorist attack or not at the beginning,” Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said. “However, every precaution … was taken to ensure the safety of the community.” He described the crash as a “tragic accident.”

Occupants: Hochul couldn’t confirm the origin of the vehicle – described by a source as 2022 Bentley two-door coupe – but said there’s suspicion “it may have originated in that vicinity” of a casino. It was traveling at an extremely high speed before it crashed, she said. A resident from Western New York was involved in the crash, the governor said.

Travel headaches: The explosion on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday led to closures and delays on a busy travel day. International flights in and out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport were briefly halted while other travelers there were warned they could expect additional screening.