Border between USA and Canada
FBI investigates car explosion in New York state
Police officers block the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge in New York State. photo
© Derek Gee/The Buffalo News via AP/dpa
Shortly before Thanksgiving, an incident at the border with Canada shocked the USA: a car exploded at the border crossing near the famous Niagara Falls. The background is initially unclear.
The two occupants of the car were dead, US broadcaster CNN reported, citing unnamed sources. Otherwise there are no further fatalities.
The FBI in Buffalo and the border transportation agency also confirmed the incident. The FBI in Buffalo said he was under investigation. Photos showed rubble and a heavy police presence at the border crossing. The head of the government of the province of Ontario, Doug Ford, said that the investigative authorities were also involved on the Canadian side.
The White House said US President Joe Biden had been informed of the incident. He and his team followed developments closely. Hochul announced that he would travel to Buffalo and meet police and rescue workers there.
The state police are working together with the Federal Police FBI’s terrorism unit to monitor all access routes to New York, Hochul said. Three other border crossings with Canada in western New York were also initially closed, authorities said. Security precautions have been increased at other border crossings and at some airports. Some official buildings in cities near the incident closed earlier than usual.
The Thanksgiving holiday in the USA is on Thursday, when family and friends traditionally meet. The day before has some of the busiest traffic of the entire year.