New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) gave a press conference Wednesday afternoon to update the public on the investigation into a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the United States and Canada. Based on briefings with law enforcement, the FBI, Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Hochul said there is currently no sign that the explosion was a terrorist incident.
We’ve been on heightened alert since October 7th. That’s why it’s so important for me to stand here and tell the world based on what we know at this moment — and again, anything can change — there is no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash. we have identified that this is a local individual, a Western New Yorker. Two individuals died in the vehicle. The Border patrol individual working in the booth was injured…they went to the hospital with minor injuries and have been released.
The Rainbow Bridge is still closed while law enforcement continues the investigation and while the structural integrity of the toll booths is assessed, but other border crossings have reopened. Hochul said that despite media reports, Buffalo International Airport was never shut down.
Hochul said that there is no indication of whether the crash was intentional or not.
All I know is there was a horrific incident, a crash, an explosion, loss of life, but at this time no known terrorist connection.
It’s a Western New York resident who was most likely int hat vicinity prior to that …extraordinarily high rate of speed that led to the crash into the median that sent the vehicle airborne. And when you see the video your jaw will drop in disbelief in how this went so high, over an 8 foot fence. It’s rather extraordinary.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Special Agent in Charge Aaron Bowker said nearby border crossings were closed out of an abundance of caution.
I think any time you have an incident like this, you want to take an abundance of precaution…so you make a quick decision like that, and then go back based on the totality of circumstances, working with law enforcement partners to reopen, and we reopened.
Hochul’s overall message was to ask the public to “dial down the temperature right now” and reassure people that “all is well.”
You can watch the entire press conference here:
