Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge explosion updates — New surveillance video shows car airborne moments before deadly crash
NEW footage has been released of a car speeding toward Rainbow Bridge before exploding by Niagara Falls on Wednesday afternoon, leaving two individuals dead.
The vehicle hurtled toward Rainbow Bridge to from the American side before at a high rate of speed before going up in flames.
The two people in the car during the explosion have died and a Border Patrol officer was also injured, officials reported.
Surveillance video released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows the white car accelerating around a corner toward the border and becoming airborne in the moments before it crashed into a Customs and Border Patrol facility - and Governor said the car flew over an eight-foot fence.
Debris from the vehicle could be seen flying through the air moments after the flames began, and clouds of thick black smoke billowed from the scene.
President has been briefed on the explosion and is monitoring any developments, according to .
Despite earlier reports, Hochul says that there is “no indication” that the explosion was a terrorist attack.
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'Was this generated by A.I.?'
Speaking after the explosion, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said, at first, she could not tell if it was real or digitally produced.
"You actually had to look at it and say, 'Was this generated by A.I.?' because it was so surreal to see how high in the air this vehicle went and then the crash and explosion and the fire," she said.
Officials identify the owner of vehicle
Officials have uncovered the identity of the individual who owns the vehicle that was involved in the explosion on Rainbow Bridge.
The FBI is continuing to identify the dead occupants who were in the vehicle.
Officials are not sure if the individual is at the scene as the explosion has made it difficult.
Video footage shows horrifying explosion
Surveillance footage shows the instant a car detonated at the US-Canada Rainbow Bridge border crossing.
The 10-second clip does not show the car that detonated.
At 11:22 am on November 22, a sizable fireball, moving at a comparatively unhurried pace, becomes visible and then fades away.
What caused the explosion
When the car struck the building, it was moving quickly, caught fire, and burst into flames.
Although this was preliminary information, law enforcement authorities stated that an initial search did not turn up a secondary bomb or device.
Whether the accident was deliberate is being looked into by the authorities.
What to know about Niagara Falls
The Rainbow Bridge connects Niagara Falls, Ontario, a Canadian city near the well-known falls of the same name, with the United States.
Situated on the western bank of the Niagara River, it commands a view of the Horseshoe Falls, the largest segment of the cascades.
Visitors may reach a wetter, lower viewpoint behind the falls via elevators.
A promenade and observation deck flank the 520-foot-tall Skylon Tower in a cliffside park.
The explosion on the Rainbow Bridge occurred on one of the busiest travel days of the year in the US, the day before Thanksgiving.
On October 9, Canadians already observed their version of the holiday.
Four bridges were shut down
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York stated that following the explosion on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, four bridges on the U.S.-Canadian border were closed to traffic.
According to the governor's office, there will also be "increased security checks, explosive detection, and increased screenings" for vehicles and passengers entering the airports in Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
Vehicle on US side at the time of explosion
The car that caused the explosion had been nearing the US border crossing.
CNN now reports that as the automobile approached a checkpoint area, it accelerated to a "high rate of speed," struck a curb, and flew airborne before striking a secondary checkpoint, in contrast to previous accounts that said the vehicle had been sent to a secondary checkpoint.
According to officials speaking with CNN, there isn't anything showing a continuous threat right now.
Actions being taken
According to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, all crossings in western New York between the and , including the Rainbow Bridge, were closed out of caution, per .
The airports in Buffalo and Niagara Falls are completely functioning, according to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, but there will be system-wide security increases and extra inspections for tourists.
All four entries closed after the explosion
Rainbow Bridge was reportedly closed at 11:51 am after the vehicle burst into flames killing two.
All four entryways from Canada into the US were closed down, .
Kathy Hochul traveled to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement and emergency responders
More on explosion
The vehicle which was said to be traveling from Canada to the US hit a curb and went airborne over a barrier, landing in a secondary search area, where it burst into flames, CNN reported.
The FBI is currently attempting to recover videos from multiple angles from the explosion, the outlet added.
Pictures from the scene show thick smoke and flames where the car exploded.
Vehicle traced to New York resident
During Wednesday's press conference, Governor was adamant that at this time, there is no indication that the car explosion was a terrorist attack.
The vehicle has been traced to a western resident, Hochul said.
"The world is watching to find out what happened here," the governor said, noting that tensions have been high since the .
"We're going to make sure the public is safe before they go back on the Rainbow Bridge."
Initial search didn't reveal explosive device
A car struck the bridge's checkpoint structure at a very high speed, according to four senior law enforcement officials informed on the situation and told .
The sources claimed that once the car struck the building, it caught fire and burst.
There were two victims inside the car.
There was no second explosive or device discovered during the initial search.
Governor says car flew over fence
During the Wednesday evening press conference, Governor said that there was "no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash."
Hochul said the vehicle was traveling at an "extraordinarily high rate of speed."
"When you see this video your jaw will drop," she continued.
Hochul said the car flew over an eight-foot-tall fence.
One patient treated
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center said that one patient was treated at the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries related to the incident, according to .
The hospital reported that the patient was later discharged.
Shocking footage of vehicle revealed
from the car crash and explosion on New York's Rainbow Bridge has been released as the investigation continues into the incident.
Video shows the white car accelerating around a corner toward the border and becoming airborne in the moments before it crashed into a Customs and Border Patrol facility.
Debris from the vehicle could be seen flying through the air moments after the flames began.
Clouds of thick black smoke were billowing from the scene.
Canada safety minister: 'Obviously a very serious situation'
The vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing is being handled "extremely seriously" by the Canadian government, according to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, US authorities, and border service organizations are providing frequent information to the government.
Leblanc said he will shortly have a conversation with the US Homeland Secretary.
“This is obviously a very serious situation,” the minister said.
He did not speak of the “origin” of the accident or deaths due to its "evolving" nature, per .
Incident 'caused by reckless driver'
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported that their initial indications were that today's explosion was caused by a reckless driver, according to .
The agency reports that preliminary information did not suggest that the incident was a deliberate attack.
reportedly said that the car sped onto the bride plaza, drove through a fence separating lanes, and went toward the inspection lanes, where it exploded, according to the newspaper.
'No indication' of terrorist attack
Governor says that there is “no indication” that today's explosion was a terrorist attack.
This comes after Fox News reported that the explosion was an "attempted terrorist attack."
The investigation into the incident is continuing.
Government offices evacuated
Michael Novakhov, a member of the New York State Assembly, said on Facebook that all municipal government offices in the vicinity of the explosion near the US-Canada border had been evacuated and closed.
According to Novakhov, his office has been informed about the explosion.
Suitcase found on the scene
Investigators discovered a briefcase or luggage at the site of the incident, according to .
The parcel is being handled by the bomb squad, who are treating it as a potential explosive device out of caution.
Officials identify the owner of vehicle
Officials have uncovered the identity of the individual who owns the vehicle that was involved in the explosion on Rainbow Bridge.
The FBI is continuing to identify the dead occupants who were in the vehicle.
Officials are not sure if the individual is at the scene as the explosion has made it difficult.
Airport vehicles being scanned for explosives
Due to increased security following the incident at the Rainbow Bridge, all cars entering Buffalo International Airport are subject to bomb-detecting canine screening, a transportation official told .
Spokesman Kelly Khatib with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said that there would be more police patrols and checks of passengers at the airport.
Border patrol officer injured
According to two American law enforcement sources with knowledge of the incident, a car exploded on Wednesday at the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the United States and Canada.
The incident killed two individuals and wounded a Border Patrol officer.
The explosion's cause was not immediately apparent, the New York Times .
A video of the incident showed what looked to be an inspection booth at the bridge, surrounded by rubble and with smoke pouring out of the top.
US Secretary of Transportation shares statement
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg took to X to share a statement on the incident.
Airport halting departures and arrivals
The US Federal Aviation Administration reports that the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is no longer open for foreign aircraft entering or departing.
There is a two-day notice of closure.
According to its , Buffalo Niagara International Airport offers up to 100 nonstop flights daily that serve 31 airport destinations as well as other locations.