[UPDATED] Explosion at U.S.-Canada Border: Hochul Says 'No Indication' of Terrorism; New Video of Crash

UPDATES BELOW

An explosion has been reported on the American side of the U.S.-Canada border at the Rainbow Bridge crossing.

ABC Buffalo reports that the bridge is closed in both directions "due to an incident involving a vehicle coming into the U.S."

"A spokesperson for the Niagara Falls Mayor's Office said the closure will be in place until further notice and federal authorities are currently investigating the situation," the news outlet reported.

It's not known at this time whether the explosion was an accident, terror attack, or something else.

Video from the area shows a massive cloud of smoke in the vicinity of the bridge. Reporter Keean Bexte tweeted that "a vehicle containing an unknown number of people and contents exploded."

BREAKING VIDEO: Reports describe a massive explosion at the United States border coming in from Canada. Apparently, a vehicle containing an unknown number of people and contents exploded. It's unclear if this was a terrorist attack yet. pic.twitter.com/fVudruQYuh
— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) November 22, 2023

The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating the explosion at the border.

#FBI Buffalo statement on investigation at the Rainbow Bridge: pic.twitter.com/jRaGLL8sU8
— FBI Buffalo (@FBIBuffalo) November 22, 2023

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she is closely monitoring the situation:

I’ve been briefed on the incident on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls and we are closely monitoring the situation. State agencies are on site and ready to assist.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) November 22, 2023

It appears to have been a massive blast:

Picture from the scene shows a massive explosion at the US/Canada border near Niagara Falls.

This was very likely to be an IED/car bomb given the size of the explosion. pic.twitter.com/2UDCEldCBO
— Black & White (@BuonJose11019) November 22, 2023

These photos appear to show the explosion scene, but this early in the investigation, PJ Media cannot confirm whether they are authentic.

Images coming in of the explosion aftermath at the US/Canada border. pic.twitter.com/9kiELfe3Ip
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) November 22, 2023

ABC News reports that "Law enforcement is placing K-9 officers on each of the international bridges in the area as a precautionary measure, according to sources."

Update 1:44 p.m.: This video appears to show a fire at the Rainbow Bridge plaza. Justin Hart reminds us that just yesterday, the FBI announced an increased terror threat in New York State related to the Palestinian protests.

A car has exploded at the entrance plaza for the Rainbow bridge which connects the U.S. and Canada at Niagara Falls, New York.

Recall just yesterday the FBI had issued an increased potential of terrorist attacks in New York state. pic.twitter.com/BRRZqyO3Cx
— Justin Hart (@justin_hart) November 22, 2023

"Our most immediate concern is that violent extremists, individuals or small groups, will draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "That includes not just homegrown violent extremists, inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, but also domestic violent extremists targeting Jewish or Muslim communities. We've already seen that with the individual we arrested last week in Houston."

The report from the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which seems sympathetic to Hamas, warned, "The expansion of Israeli operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and increase in civilian casualties raises the likelihood that violent extremist threat actors will seek to conduct attacks against targets in the West, with New York State being a focus. Terrorist messaging has placed focus on attacking 'soft targets' such as protests, group gatherings, and other public events."

Update 2:01 p.m.: Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams reports that "High level police sources tell me this is an attempted terrorist attack. Sources say the car was full of explosives. Both men inside dead."

Update 2:27 p.m.: Fox News reports that authorities are looking for a second car. They also note that both the passenger and the driver of the exploded vehicle are dead. A Border Patrol agent was also injured on the scene. His injuries are not thought to be serious.

Update 2:50 p.m.: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, speaking before the House of Commons, announced that four border crossings are currently closed: Rainbow Bridge, Peace Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge, and Queenston Bridge. "Additional measures are being contemplated and activated at all border crossing across the country. We are taking this extraordinarily seriously," he said.

Here's the scene right now at the Peace Bridge.

NOW: Buffalo police are blocking Niagara Street near the Peace bridge. @wkbw pic.twitter.com/5H2gsmNSLF
— Ed Drantch (@EdDrantch) November 22, 2023

While this will no doubt disrupt many holiday plans, we can be grateful that only the terrorists were killed in the explosion.

Update 3:12 p.m.: Reports are coming in that the car originated on the American side of the Rainbow Bridge and was spotted at a 7-Eleven store before the attack. Via the Niagara Gazette: "Traveling down Niagara Street, the car sped onto the bridge plaza, went through a fence separating the inbound lanes from the outbound lanes, and toward the inspection lanes where it exploded, according to law enforcement sources at the scene."

Based on what we're seeing, it appears that CBP or its Canadian counterpart may have thwarted a MAJOR terror attack on the Rainbow Bridge with hundreds of fatalities. Imagine if that car had blown up on the bridge. Thank God for the men and women who run to the danger. https://t.co/l2SH6udpBv
— Paula Bolyard (@pbolyard) November 22, 2023

Update 3:54 p.m.: Eyewitness Ricky Wilson told reporters that he saw car going around in circles at a high rate of speed. It then moved toward the bridge. He believes it hit a barrier and flew 10-15 feet in the air before exploding.

There is some speculation that a collision at that high rate of speed, rather than explosives, could have caused such an explosion, but that has not been confirmed.

Update 4:09 p.m.: Reuters reports that "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, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters."

Fox News is now being more cautious in its initial assessment that it was a terrorist attack.

Update 6:00 p.m.: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says that the explosion at the Rainbow Bridge U.S.-Canada border crossing does not appear to be an act of terrorism. At a press conference on Wednesday, Hochul told reporters, “I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers: At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist attack."

Additionally, Rainbow Bridge security footage has been released that shows the moment the suspect vehicle became airborne. The vehicle can be seen in the background traveling at a high rate of speed before it strikes something that sends it into the air.

#BREAKING: New video shows the moment a white vehicle went airborne and crashed at the Rainbow Bridge Crossing checkpoint near Niagara Falls m pic.twitter.com/59nlTC8hXn
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) November 22, 2023

This is a developing story.