An explosion Saturday night in the crowded Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea has left 29 people injured. Authorities said a second nearby site was also being investigated. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the blast an “intentional act,” but there was no terrorist connection.
“Tonight, New York City experienced a very bad incident,” de Blasio said at a news conference near the scene in Chelsea. “We have no credible and specific threat at this moment. ”
The mayor also said there is no specific connection to a pipe bomb explosion in the New Jersey shore town of Seaside Park earlier Saturday at a charity run.
The blast happened in front of a residence for the blind. Witnesses say the explosion at about 8:30 p.m. blew out the windows of businesses in the area.
Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said several people were taken to hospitals with injuries. One of the injured suffered a puncture wound that was considered serious. He said the other injuries were minor, described as scrapes and bruises.
Early Sunday morning, residents near the area where officials were investigating a second explosive device received alerts on the city’s emergency warning system.
A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the second device that officers were investigating four blocks from the scene appeared to be a pressure cooker attached to wiring and a cellphone. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation, said the device was found inside a plastic bag on West 27th Street.
The law enforcement official also said the explosion appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building. New York officials said the incident was not due to a gas leak, as some had speculated.
CCTV America’s Liling Tan was on the scene and brought us these reports via FB Live.
11:25 p.m. – Liling Tan speaks to a resident of the Chelsea neighborhood
10:56 p.m. – Liling Tan reports on the latest known on the apparent blast in Chelsea
At 9:42 p.m., Twitter user Danilo Gabrielli shot this footage, stating that the area surrounding the site of the explosion was being evacuated.
They are evacuating the streets at 23rd and 7th down to 8th avenue, where I live. #chelsea #nyc #nycexplosion pic.twitter.com/IJ2JKKj8Iz
— DG0325 (@DaniloGabrielli) September 18, 2016
At 8:47 p.m., Twitter user Sergey tweeted these photos – only moments after the explosion occurred.
The situation at 23rd and 6th in NYC. Explosion happened on 23rd, subway station blocked off. pic.twitter.com/NPNjXqIerH
— sᴇʀɢᴇʏ (@sergeydgr8) September 18, 2016
huge boom in NYC just now. Panic everywhere
— sᴇʀɢᴇʏ (@sergeydgr8) September 18, 2016
Police spokesman J. Peter Donald said on Twitter that the explosion happened at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
25 injuries to civilians confirmed at 133 W 23 St #Chelsea. None appear to be life-threatening at this time
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 18, 2016
Story by the Associated Press