NYPD “Closely Monitoring” Rainbow Bridge Vehicle Explosion As City Prepares For Thanksgiving Holiday

deadline.com:

The NYPD is “closely monitoring” the situation at the Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge border crossing where a vehicle explosion today has resulted in at least one death and snarled holiday travel plans through the busy Buffalo international airport. “The NYPD and our team have been closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Buffalo after an explosion at the Rainbow Bridge,” New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement, “and we’ve already sent NYPD officers upstate to support efforts on the ground.” The driver of the vehicle was killed in the explosion; earlier reports that a passenger also died have now been called into question.

The vehicle was reportedly traveling from the United States toward Canada when it accelerated, struck a curb, flipped, crashed and exploded.

No determination has been made as to intent, though The New York Times is reporting that the car did not contain explosives.

New York City already is on a heightened security alert due to Thanksgiving holiday events, including the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, expected to draw an estimated 3.5 million onlookers. “The NYPD and our partners have already enhanced security, and the city is on heightened alert due to the upcoming holiday,” Adams said on social media, “so the public will see increased security at locations across New York City, including entry and egress points into and out of the city.” The mayor said updated information will be shared later this afternoon at a pre-arranged security briefing on the Thanksgiving Day Parade.