FBI Investigating Explosion at Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls

The FBI said it is investigating a vehicle explosion that abruptly shut down the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the U.S. and Canada in Niagara Falls.

Investigators have yet to determine why a speeding car hit a median, crashed and exploded near a border checkpoint at the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge.

The explosion on the U.S. side of the bridge killed two people and injured a border patrol agent, and prompted on one of the busiest travel days of the year, the closure of multiple border crossings, the suspension of border train services and heightened security at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Several other U.S.-Canada crossings were temporarily closed following the explosion, including the Peace Bridge connecting Buffalo, New York, to Fort Erie, Canada.

The FBI, as well as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed at a Wednesday evening briefing that two people died in the “horrific incident” and emphasized there was “no known terrorist connection” at this time.

Hochul said the vehicle was “basically incinerated” and that nothing was left besides the engine. She said earlier on Wednesday that she directed New York State Police to work with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces to monitor all points of entry into the state.

This is a developing story and will be updated as the story develops.

I’ve been newly briefed by the @FBI this evening on the incident at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls.

They have now confirmed that there is no reason at present to believe this was terrorism.

And they believe they have the identity of the driver.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 22, 2023

Video obtained by MSNBC shows the vehicle maneuvering at high speed, hitting an obstacle, and going airborne. According to the NY Times, who quotes a law enforcement official, the vehicle went airborne and hit a cement pillar, causing it to explode. pic.twitter.com/g6PqOVpDVY

— TRACKER DEEP (@tracker_deep) November 22, 2023