‘Homemade bomb’ that ripped through Manhattan injuring 29 WAS an ‘obvious act of terrorism’, officials confirm
Authorities say the blast was 'intentional' after it detonated from a bin outside 14-storey building near Madison Square Park - hours after pipe bombing at military fun run
AN explosion from a "homemade bomb" that ripped through Manhattan last night injuring 29 people was "obviously an act on terror" but has not been linked to international terror groups such as ISIS.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said "a bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism" and vowed that those responsible would be found as 1,000 extra cops were drafted in to keep the city safe.
A car seen driving through the area had its rear window blown out
The "deafening" explosion ripped through New York's fashionable Chelsea neighbourhood at about 8.30pm on Saturday night in what officials have described as an "intentional act".
A second pressure cooker device was later found and removed by police.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said there does not appear to be an "international terrorism connection" but added it is "very, very early in the investigation".
In the immediate aftermath of the attack said there was "no evidence at this point of a terror connection" and no "credible and specific threat" to New York City.
Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York said: "Whoever placed these bombs, we will find, and they will be brought to justice.
"We will not allow these types of people and these types of threats to disrupt our life in New York.
"That's what they want to do. We're not going to let them do it. This is freedom, this is democracy, and we're not going to allow them to take that from us."
Both Mr de Blasio and Mr Cuomo, have said there is no evidence the blast was linked to a pipe bomb explosion at a charity run in neighbouring New Jersey just hours earlier.
Mr Cuomo today said the two explosions were caused by different kinds of devices.
The moment of the blast was caught by the CCTV of a nearby building
Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio and Chief of Department of the New York City Police Department James O'Neill held a joint press conference after the explosion
The Manhattan explosion ripped through West 23rd Street in the Chelsea area of Manhattan, close to the Flatiron building and Madison Square Park.
CCTV footage of the moment of the explosion shows panicked passers-by fleeing from the scene.
The second device, found in 27th Street and Sixth Avenue, was a pressure cooker with different coloured wires coming out it.
The device was wrapped in a plastic bag with what appears to be a cell phone or timer attached to it.
Police have confirmed the device, which reportedly had a note attached to it, has been removed from the area using a robot.
The suspicious device has been taken to the NYPD gun range to be safely tested.
The New York Police Counterterrorism Bureau has shared an image on Twitter showing a damaged dustbin.
Unconfirmed reports have suggested the initial blast was caused by a homemade bomb, which exploded in the dustbin.
It has been confirmed that 29 people were taken to hospital with injuries - one with a serious puncture wound.
Most of the victims suffered cuts and other minor injuries from glass and other flying debris.
The explosion, was described by one neighbour as “deafening,” happened outside an Associated Blind Housing facility.
The facility provides housing, training and other services for the blind.
Multiple emergency vehicles, including ambulances, rushed to the scene.
Deborah Griffith, 60, was dining at a vegetarian restaurant on the block.
“People were running, holding their ears, rubbing their ears,” she said.
Emily Brookstein, 30, told the Daily Mail Online: “I was eating at the restaurant Mira with my family and we heard a huge noise and the entire restaurant shook.
“My dad thought it was thunder but we obviously realised later that wasn't the case. We came out of the restaurant and could see smoke.”
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Tsi Tsi Mallett was driving along 23rd Street at the time of the explosion.
She told the Daily Mail: “It was really loud, it hurt my eardrums. My 10-year-old boy was sat in the back seat of the car, and the explosion blew the back window out.”
Her son was not injured.
Police officers and medical services were seen pushing bystanders away from the area and diverting traffic.
In a bulletin the authorities warned anyone travelling in the vicinity to “expect extensive traffic delays and emergency personnel in the area” due to police activity.
“It was a quiet night, and then I heard this deafening boom,” said Jakir Aussin, who works at a Dunkin Donuts at 23rd and Sixth Avenue.
“My first thought was, ‘Oh god, a bomb,’ so I got down on the floor.”
He added “I looked outside and it’s all broken glass, car alarms going off — I still don’t know what happened.”
Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said “victims have been transported to hospitals with abrasions” from the explosion but all injuries are not life-threatening.
It is understood an eight-year-old was among the injured.
Investigators have said they are reviewing footage showing a person standing close to the site of the incident.
Police dogs were sniffing bins throughout the area in the hours after the blast.
Mr de Blasio urged witnesses who took footage of the blast to send it to NYPD.
No link has been established between yesterday evening's blast and a pipe bomb explosion in neighbouring New Jersey hours earlier.
No one was injured in the blast in Seaside Park, which came shortly before thousands of runners were due to take part in a charity race.
A small bomb exploded along the route of the road race in aid of US marines and sailors, shortly before 3,000 runners were due to set off.
Pictures shared on social media showed a green plastic waste bin blown apart.
Police have since said there were further devices in the bin but not all detonated.
President Barack Obama is being briefed as the situation unfolds.
Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have both spoken since the blast.
Mrs Clinton said: “We need to do everything we can to support our first responders. We have to pray for the victims
“We have been in touch with authorities in New York City. And I will have more to say about it when we have more information.”
Mr Trump said: “A bomb went off in New York and no one knows what's going on. We've got to get very tough folks.”
Mr Cuomo has released a statement after the blast saying: “State officials are coordinating our response with federal and New York City authorities, and full State resources have been made available for this investigation.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and urge New Yorkers to, as always, remain calm and vigilant.”
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