Four border crossings between Canada and western New York state have been closed after a vehicle exploded at a tollbooth crossing into the US via Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls in what sources told Fox News was an attempted terrorist attack on Wednesday.
While the outlet initially reported that explosives were found in the vehicle, which was attempting to drive into the border officer building, that claim was later retracted.
The FBI’s Buffalo Field Office said it was investigating what it called a “vehicle explosion” in coordination with local law enforcement, describing the situation as “very fluid” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Witnesses told local news outlet the Niagara Gazette that the car sped the wrong way into the border crossing’s inspection booths and exploded.
A 27-year-old man has reportedly been taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, including back pain and small cuts. The two people in the car that exploded are said to have died, while one border officer has been injured.
The incident occurred at 11:51am local time, according to the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition, and took place on the American side of the bridge.
In addition to Rainbow Bridge, authorities have closed Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, and Whirlpool Bridge to investigate the incident. Border crossings have been especially busy ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, which takes place on Thursday in the US. According to Fox News’ sources, government buildings in the area have also been evacuated.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is en route to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement and first responders, according to a statement from her office. New York State Police are “actively working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry to New York,” she said.
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