Surveillance video shows moment of explosion near US-Canada border
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What we covered here
There is no indication that the explosion at Rainbow Bridge between the US and Canada was a terrorist attack, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday. Two people died in the blast, she said.
Investigators believe a man was traveling with his wife in a 2022 Bentley at a high rate of speed when the vehicle hit a curb, then a guardrail that sent the vehicle airborne, law enforcement sources tell CNN.
The explosion on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday led to closures and delays on a busy travel day.
Our live coverage has ended. You can scroll through the posts below to catch up on the incident on the Rainbow Bridge.
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No indication of terrorism after explosion on US-Canada bridge. Here's what we know so far
From CNN staff
Police blockade roads after an explosion at the Rainbow Bridge US border crossing with Canada in Niagara Falls, New York, on Wednesday.
Lindsay DeDario/Reuters
There is no indication of terrorism after an explosion killed two people in a car that crashed at the US-Canada Rainbow Bridge border crossing on Wednesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
All four bridges between Canada and the United States near Niagara Falls were closed immediately after the incident, according to the governor. The Peace, Whirlpool and Lewiston-Queenston bridges reopened later Wednesday, while the Rainbow Bridge remained closed, she said.
Here’s what we know:
High-speed vehicle: Investigators believe a man was traveling with his wife in a 2022 Bentley at a high rate of speed when the vehicle hit a curb, then a guardrail that sent the vehicle airborne into the secondary screening area of Rainbow Bridge, law enforcement sources told CNN. The man had plans to attend a KISS concert in Canada but when that was canceled, the man went to a casino in the US instead, investigators believe. The crash occurred sometime after the couple left the casino, law enforcement sources said. Footage on social media and from surveillance cameras shows the remains strewn about with thick smoke and fire billowing. A border patrol employee in a booth also suffered minor injuries, Hochul said.
Leaders briefed: The leaders of both the United States and Canada were briefed on the incident. “We didn’t know if it was a terrorist attack or not at the beginning,” Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said. “However, every precaution … was taken to ensure the safety of the community.” He described the crash as a “tragic accident.”
Travel headaches: The explosion on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday led to closures and delays on a busy travel day. International flights in and out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport were briefly halted while other travelers there were warned they could expect additional screening.
This post has been updated with the latest information on the driver.
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Buffalo airport resumes international arrivals and departures
From CNN's Pete Muntean
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it lifted the restriction that paused international arrivals and departures from Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Domestic flights were never impacted.
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No indication of terrorism threat related to Rainbow Bridge explosion, FBI says
From CNN’s Sabrina Souza
There are no indications of a threat of terrorism related to the Rainbow Bridge incident Wednesday, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia said at a news conference.
Asked why he believes there isn’t a threat of terrorism, Miraglia said, “We do have someone in mind for it and we’re working through it through the JTTF,” a reference to the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Trini Ross, the US Attorney for the Western District of New York, echoed the assessment, saying that the preliminary investigation determined the incident “was not terrorism-related” at this stage.
“But we will continue to stay vigilant,” Ross said, emphasizing people can “lower their heightened sensitivities knowing that we do not believe this was a terrorist event.”
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Vehicle traveled at extraordinarily high speed, which led to crash that killed 2, governor says
From CNN’s Celina Tebor
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul couldn’t confirm the origin of vehicle that exploded at the US-Canada border and left two dead, but noted “there is suspicion that the vehicle may have originated in that vicinity” of a casino. The vehicle was traveling at an extremely high speed before it crashed, the governor said.
Hochul noted “there is suspicion that the vehicle may have originated in that vicinity” of a casino. The vehicle was traveling at an extremely high speed before it crashed, the governor said.
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Local New Yorker involved in Rainbow Bridge explosion, governor says
From CNN’s Celina Tebor
A local from Western New York was involved in the Rainbow Bridge explosion on Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said during a news conference.
A member of the Border Patrol working in the booth was injured, she added.
Three land crossings between Canada and the U.S. have reopened; the Rainbow Bridge remains closed, she said.
Amtrak service remains temporarily suspended between New York state and Canada. The Buffalo airport “never closed” and there has been no cessation of service there, the governor said.
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No indication of terrorist attack in bridge explosion, NY governor says
From CNN’s Celina Tebor
Kathy Hochul speaks at a news conference on Wednesday.
State of New York
There is no indication that the explosion at Rainbow Bridge between the US and Canada was a terrorist attack, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The governor said the vehicle is “basically incinerated” with nothing left but the engine, and pieces scattered throughout the scene. “The pieces are scattered over 13, 14 booths so it is a large scene,” she said.
The investigation is ongoing, she said.
“We’re going to make sure the public is safe before they go back on the Rainbow Bridge,” she said.
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Traffic resumes at Lewiston-Queenston Bridge on US-Canada border
From CNN's Dave Alsup
Traffic cameras show traffic resuming at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge along the US Canada Border on Wednesday.
All four bridges in the area between Canada and the United States – including the Peace, Lewiston-Queenston and Whirlpool – were closed on Wednesday following the car explosion on the Rainbow Bridge, officials said.
Border cameras show the Rainbow Bridge where the incident occurred remains closed.
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Traffic resumes at the Peace Bridge crossing near Buffalo
From CNN's Dave Alsup
Traffic cameras show cross-border traffic resuming in both directions at the Peace Bridge, the international bridge on the US-Canada border near Buffalo, New York.
All four bridges in the area between Canada and the United States – including the Peace, Lewiston-Queenston and Whirlpool – were closed on Wednesday following the car explosion on the Rainbow Bridge, officials said.
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Amtrak temporarily suspends routes connecting New York and Canada, spokesperson says
From CNN’s Pete Muntean
Amtrak says it has temporarily suspended routes connecting New York and Canada.
The rail line’s cross-border routes include the Maple Leaf – a daily train connecting Toronto with Niagara Falls and other points on the US side. A separate Amtrak route services Montreal from New York.
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Toronto police increase patrols throughout city "out of an abundance of caution"
From CNN's Raja Razek
Toronto police said they are increasing patrols throughout the city “out of an abundance of caution” due to today’s incident at the US-Canada border.
Authorities have identified the registered owner of vehicle, but are now uncertain about number of passengers
From CNN's John Miller and Zach Cohen
Authorities have identified the registered owner of the vehicle involved in the incident on the Rainbow Bridge, law enforcement sources tell CNN.
The car came from the US side and was traveling toward Canada, according to a law enforcement source and another source briefed on the investigation.
The FBI is working to identify the bodies of the dead occupant or occupants in the car and see if there’s any evidence of explosives, both sources said.
Authorities are trying to determine whether the car is registered to the driver at the scene, but the condition of the remains has made it difficult for authorities to determine the identity of the driver, multiple sources told CNN.
It has also created a challenge for authorities in assessing if there were one or two people in the car. Law enforcement originally believed there were two individuals in the car, but they are now not certain.
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Surveillance camera video shows moment of vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge
From CNN’s Paul P. Murphy
The moment a vehicle exploded at the US-Canada Rainbow Bridge border crossing was captured by surveillance camera.
CNN has geolocated and confirmed the authenticity of the video.
The vehicle that exploded is not visible in the 10-second-long video. The timestamp reads November 22, 11:22 a.m., when a large, relatively slow-moving fireball is seen before dissipating.
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US attorney general briefed on vehicle explosion at the US-Canada border, Justice Department says
From CNN’S Evan Perez
Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the vehicle explosion at the US-Canada border.
Authorities using drones to get overview of Rainbow Bridge area to assess what happened at explosion point
From CNN’S Brynn Gingras
Authorities are using drones to get an overview of the area of impact on the Rainbow Bridge to determine what happened at the explosion point, a law enforcement source tells CNN.
Witness captures thick smoke and flames on video after vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge
From CNN’s Jillian Sykes
A vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the US and Canada on Wednesday.
Chorkor Millionaire/Facebook
A witness captured video showing thick clouds of dark smoke rising from the flames of a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the US and Canada on Wednesday.
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Buffalo Niagara International Airport halts arriving and departing international flights
From CNN's Pete Muntean
The Buffalo Niagara International Airport has closed to both international arriving and departing flights, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The closure is listed for two days.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport has up to 100 nonstop flights per day serving 31 airport destinations and beyond, its website says.
Every car coming into the Buffalo International Airport is being screened with bomb-detecting dogs amid heightened security in response to the incident at the Rainbow Bridge, a transportation official told CNN.
Police patrols will be increased and travelers at the airport will undergo additional screenings, according to Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokesperson Kelly Khatib.
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Jewish community center in Buffalo closes until after Thanksgiving holiday, citing car explosion
From CNN's Rob Frehse
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo is closing through the Thanksgiving holiday “out of an abundance of caution,” after law enforcement recommended it does so, citing the Rainbow Bridge incident.
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NYPD officers deployed to support efforts at Rainbow Bridge, mayor says
From CNN's Rob Frehse
New York Police Department officers have been deployed to support efforts at the Rainbow Bridge, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on X on Wednesday.
It’s unclear how many members of the NYPD had been deployed and how exactly they would assist officials on the ground.
Adams also reminded the public that New York City is already on heightened alert due to the upcoming holiday.
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Photos from the aftermath of the Rainbow Bridge explosion illustrate its impact
From CNN's Paul P. Murphy
The aftermath of a vehicle explosion that took place at the Rainbow Bridge near Niagara Falls, New York, on Wednesday.
From X
CNN geolocated and confirmed the authenticity of four photos, which have been circulating on social media, showing the aftermath of the explosion at the US-Canada border.
In some of the photos, the remains of a vehicle can be seen strewn across the US-side of the border crossing. One of the photos appears to have been taken immediately after the explosion as thick smoke and fire can be seen filling the air.
In one photo, it’s clear one of the border guard checkpoints suffered damage as the doorway and window have been blown out.
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Biden briefed on bridge incident, White House says
From CNN's Betsy Klein
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident that occurred on the Rainbow bridge at the US-Canada Border, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Biden and his team, she added, “are closely following developments.”
