Fox News has reported that the vehicle explosion at the US-Canada border was a terrorist attack.
According to law enforcement sources, the vehicle sped into a border inspection lane and crashed into a booth.
Explosives were then detonated inside the car, resulting in the death of the two occupants and injuring a border inspection agent with non-life threatening injuries.
Here’s the security footage of the event:
🚨 BREAKING: Security Footage shows the moment the car bomb went off at the U.S./Canada border in an attempted terror attack
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 22, 2023
pic.twitter.com/5p25cveElS
Here’s what Fox News reported:
The FBI is investigating a vehicle explosion Wednesday at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the U.S. and Canada in what sources tell Fox News was an attempted terrorist attack.
Explosives were in the vehicle at the time and two people who were in the car are dead, the sources told Fox News. A border officer was injured.
The vehicle was driving from the U.S. to Canada and were attempting to drive toward the border officer building, the sources said.
All bridges are closed in the area, and all government buildings are evacuated, according to the sources.
International border crossing points between Canada and Western New York are closed after the reported incident, which has also injured at least one person, a 27-year-old male who was taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, including back pain and minor cuts. His condition is not severe.
High level police sources tell me this is an attempted terrorist attack. Sources say the car was full of explosives. Both men inside dead. https://t.co/RYTIJ3WzHk
— Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) November 22, 2023
Ontario police have announced the closure of bridges to the U.S. and roadways leading to the bridges following the vehicle explosion. Both the Canadian and U.S. governments are treating the incident as an attempted terrorist attack and are responding accordingly.
Ontario police released a video regarding the road and bridge closures including the Peace Bridge, the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, and the Whirlpool Bridge.
Watch:
US/CANADA border closures in Niagara/Fort Erie. Stay tuned for updates ^ks pic.twitter.com/LKUm3DlmwD
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) November 22, 2023
New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, is heading to Buffalo and has instructed the New York State Police to collaborate with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in overseeing the crossings between New York and Canada.
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul says she’s directed state police to work with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force “to monitor all points of entry to New York” after a reported explosion at the Rainbow Bridge between NY and Canada. Hochul says she’s headed to Buffalo now to meet w/ responders pic.twitter.com/wBFGeW28h7
— Andrew Giambrone (@AndrewGiambrone) November 22, 2023
Video of the aftermath of the explosion shows flames and smoke emanating from the plaza at the crossing.
Watch:
New video shows flames at the CBP Checkpoint at the Rainbow Bridge.
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) November 22, 2023
Location confirmed at: https://t.co/ueSMP6djit pic.twitter.com/xwMAt3OO3R
There are contradictory reports, however.
NBC News reported it was not a terror attack.
BREAKING: Law enforcement officials reportedly told that 'no explosives were found' in the vehicle that crashed at Rainbow Bridge on US-Canada border, officials are 'not calling this terrorism.' – NBC News Correspondent
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 22, 2023
An eyewitness has described a car on the U.S. side heading towards the checkpoint at a high rate of speed before crashing and exploding.
Watch:
Witness describes Niagara Falls explosion at the Rainbow Bridge: Mike Guenther from Ontario was walking with his wife near the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls when he says they saw a car driving at a high rate of speed before crashing. pic.twitter.com/fHjlHV6xKC
— The Mugster (@Mugsfromtherock) November 22, 2023
Another report indicates that the vehicle exploded after being referred for a secondary inspection.
Photos obtained from a CBP source of the explosion in the secondary screening area at the Rainbow Bridge port in New York: pic.twitter.com/7G3pN0obuM
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) November 22, 2023