The FBI is investigating a car explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the United States and Canada near Niagara Falls, the US agency said on Wednesday, as cited by Reuters.

The explosion on the Rainbow BridgePhoto: John Normile/Getty images/Profimedia

New York State authorities are “closely monitoring” the incident on the bridge and state authorities are on the scene, New York Gov. Cathy Hochul said in a post on X on Wednesday.

UPDATE 01:20 The FBI believes it has identified the driver involved in the bridge incident, Senate Democratic Leader Schumer said.

UPDATE 11:35 p.m Two people were killed Wednesday after a car exploded on a bridge on the Canada-US border near Niagara Falls. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the situation “very serious,” but did not specify whether it was terrorism or an accident.

“The situation at Niagara Falls is obviously very serious. A car exploded on the Rainbow Bridge,” the head of the Canadian government explained to parliament. “Many questions remain and we are trying to get answers as soon as possible,” he added.

UPDATE 22:25 According to preliminary estimates, the explosion at the border between the United States and Canada was probably caused by a careless driver, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

And the county sheriff told Reuters it was just a “tragic incident”

All four international border crossings in western New York state were closed Wednesday after an incident involving a vehicle on a bridge, local media reported.

“Because the situation is volatile, that’s all we can say at this time,” the FBI said in a statement.

The White House said it had briefed President Joe Biden on the blast.

As reported in the city of Niagara Falls, the incident was related to a vehicle that was “entering” the territory of the United States. According to other sources, he was leaving the USA.

A senior law enforcement official told CBS News that the car was traveling from Canada and crashed into a pole at high speed. Canadian officials said this had not been confirmed.

The official, who spoke to CBS on condition of anonymity, also said it was too early to say what caused the car explosion.

According to the BBC, New York Gov. Cathy Hochul posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “state authorities are on the scene and ready to assist” in the federal investigation.

“I am traveling to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement and emergency response teams and will update New Yorkers as more information becomes available,” she added.

In addition to the Rainbow Bridge, the incident led to the closure of three more international checkpoints in the region.

The Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge and Rainbow Bridge are also closed in both directions, according to authorities.

Witnesses told the Niagara Gazette that they heard what sounded like an explosion and saw a cloud of smoke shortly before police arrived.

“I heard something crash,” said one witness. “I saw fire and big black smoke.”

Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters in Ottawa that “we are working closely with our American counterparts.”

“This is a rapidly changing situation,” he added.

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