Fox News reported earlier Wednesday that the explosion at the US-Canada border in Niagara Falls was an ‘attempted terrorist attack.’
“The vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in NY was an attempted terror attack w/ a vehicle full of explosives. Two men in car dead. I’m awaiting a response from CBP,” Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin previously said.
BREAKING: High level local police sources tell colleague @AlexisMcAdamsTV that the vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in NY was an attempted terror attack w/ a vehicle full of explosives. Two men in car dead. I’m awaiting a response from CBP re: any injuries…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 22, 2023
However, Fox News walked back its earlier reporting.
“We told you earlier there was an explosion because there were explosives in the car and now authorities are apparently walking that back,” Fox News reported.
WATCH:
There you have it… after spending the past few hours claiming that the car was filled with explosives, Fox starts walking it back pic.twitter.com/fUSx1y6Ovn
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 22, 2023
“Have been checking with every border contact I have for info on the car explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing today. Bottom line – too much conflicting info right now regarding what led up to the incident/how it happened. Nothing concrete I can confidently report yet,” Melugin said.
Have been checking with every border contact I have for info on the car explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing today.
Bottom line – too much conflicting info right now regarding what led up to the incident/how it happened. Nothing concrete I can confidently report yet.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 22, 2023
The cause of the blast is still under investigation.
DEVELOPING🚨: No explosives were found in the vehicle that crashed into the border checkpoint.
A cause of the blast is still being investigated, but law enforcement officials are not calling this terrorism at this time, per NBC News. pic.twitter.com/xyv57h67HP
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) November 22, 2023
“An explosion at on Wednesday at the Rainbow Bridge connecting the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls on Wednesday was likely caused by a reckless driver, according to early assessments,” Reuters reports.
BREAKING: Reuters is reporting that initial U.S. Customs and Border Protection assessment suggests incident at US-Canada border crossing caused by reckless driver whose actions resulted in a crash and fire
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 22, 2023
Per NBC News:
The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit the structure, caught fire and exploded. An initial search did not find a secondary explosive or device, the law enforcement officials said, noting this was preliminary information.
Authorities are investigating whether the crash was intentional.
All western New York bridge crossings into the U.S. were shut down following the incident, the Erie County executive said. The vehicle was headed into the U.S., the Erie County Sheriff’s Office said.
Several emergency vehicles were at the entrance of the bridge and federal authorities were investigating, NBC affiliate WGRZ of Buffalo reported.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was aware of the incident and is traveling to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement officials. She said New York State Police will be actively working with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry into the state.
An eyewitness said the car was traveling at an extremely high speed, swerved to avoid another car, hit an object that lifted it into the air, and was traveling from the U.S. side into Canada.
WATCH:
An onlooker explains what he saw when the vehicle crashed at the Rainbow Bridge:
• Car was traveling at high speeds
• Swerved to avoid another car
• Hit object that lifted car into the air
• Was traveling from U.S. into CanadaVideo below: https://t.co/LJU1vdFUh2 pic.twitter.com/cEv3WG8EMy
— ZNO 🇺🇸 (@therealZNO) November 22, 2023
Rawsalerts posted surveillance footage of the moment the explosion reportedly occurred:
🚨#BREAKING New surveillance footage captures the moment when the car bombing occurred and exploded at the toll booth of the Rainbow Bridge on the U.S.-Canadian border in Niagara Falls. Authorities are now searching for a second vehicle linked to the terrorist attack. Nearby… pic.twitter.com/734v225XWp
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 22, 2023
There have been some reports of officials searching for a second vehicle.
Praying for the quick recovery of the CBP agent injured in the attack at Rainbow Bridge.
There are reports officials are looking for a 2nd vehicle.
To all near Buffalo & to all who are traveling across our nation today, please stay vigilant.
If you see something say something. pic.twitter.com/f7VBH7N0Q4
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) November 22, 2023
This story is developing.
We’ll provide further updates when they become available.