UPDATE @ 5:11PM EST: During a press conference, officials state that there is no indication of a terrorist attack. A car, traveling at a high rate of speed, ran into a part of the border crossing. The car and the booth exploded and burst into flames. They also stated that reports of the Buffalo airport closing were false, and operations continued.
UPDATE @ 4:35PM EST: Police have reportedly ID’d the owner of the vehicle and looked at videos in the area to locate the vehicle prior to the incident. They found the car, apparently at a nearby casino in NY before the incident.
Authorities have ID’d the registered owner of vehicle involved in incident on Rainbow bridge, sources tell CNN.
— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) November 22, 2023
Law enforcement conducted a video canvass of surrounding area & found car appears to have been at a nearby NY casino before incident, @JohnMillerCNN reports.
UPDATE @ 4:26PM EST: Footage of the airborne vehicle is now available, bringing into question the initial reports that stated law enforcement officials believed the incident was a terrorist attack. No official word on what happened.
🚨#BREAKING: New footage from the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, NY shows a vehicle going airborne before catching fire as officials are now retracting earlier statements suggesting a terrorist attack. pic.twitter.com/afufysxAXk
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 22, 2023
UPDATE @ 3:53PM EST: BNO News posted to Twitter/X what appears to screenshots from surveillance video showing the car flying through the air after hitting the curb.
Stills from security camera show car crashing into checkpoint at the U.S.-Canadian border. Conflicting reports on what happened. pic.twitter.com/90LFrtTPSr
— BNO News (@BNONews) November 22, 2023
UPDATE @ 3:26PM EST: Reportedly, no explosives were found in the vehicle that crashed. The vehicle was apparently parked on a street, and then took off at a high rate of speed, striking a curb and ultimately crashing. This is still a very fluid situation.
Four law enforcement officials told @Tom_Winter and @jonathan4ny that no explosives were found in the vehicle that crashed into the Buffalo-area border checkpoint. Cause still TBD, but law enforcement officials NOT calling this terrorism.
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) November 22, 2023
UPDATE @ 3:25PM EST: It has been reported that Buffalo Niagara International Airport is closed.
BREAKING: Buffalo Niagara International is CLOSED to ALL departing and arriving international flights, per FAA.
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) November 22, 2023
UPDATE @ 2:45PM EST: Video of the explosion was released from a surveillance camera, showing the moment the vehicle exploded.
BREAKING: New video of the explosion at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, NY.
— Mike Sperrazza (@MikeASperrazza) November 22, 2023
pic.twitter.com/kwfvIWUmCh
Four international border crossings between the U.S. and Canada in Western New York were shut down on Wednesday due to a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge. This incident occurred as the vehicle was trying to enter the U.S. from Canada. The Rainbow Bridge, a prominent structure less than a mile from the famous Niagara Falls, links the cities of Niagara Falls in both countries.
Canada/US Border closed at Niagara Falls, Rainbow Bridge due to a possible VBIED, car exploded. pic.twitter.com/tS2sSwwYOT
— NYCFireWire (@NYCFireWire) November 22, 2023
The closure affects the Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge, and Rainbow Bridge, impacting travel in both directions. Ron Reinas, the general manager of the Peace Bridge, confirmed these closures. The incident is under federal investigation, with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and New York State Police closely monitoring all New York entry points. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her visit to the area in response to the situation.
FOX News has reported that high-ranking officials have said that the incident was an attempted terrorist attack. There were two people in the vehicle, who are reported deceased. Reports state that one border patrol officer was injured.
🚨#BREAKING: Rainbow Bridge Car explosion on US-Canada border was attempted terrorist attack⁰⁰📌#NiagaraFalls | #Canada
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 22, 2023
The vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, on the U.S. and Canada border, was an attempted terrorist attack with a significant amount of… pic.twitter.com/2nIJ8MueBy
Travel disruptions are anticipated, especially with increased travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is conducting thorough checks at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, leading to expected delays. Additionally, several buildings in downtown Buffalo, including the Rath Building, Old County Hall, and Family Court, were closed early as a precaution on the advice of Sheriff John Garcia and County Executive Mark Poloncarz.
This is a developing story.
