An explosion literally rocked one of NYC’s most fashionable areas on Saturday night at 8.30pm local time, injuring 29 people and putting the issue of terrorism firmly back on the city’s agenda.
The blast occurred in the Chelsea district – home to one of New York’s biggest gay communities and often crowded on weekends due to its many bars and restaurants – and caused signficant damage, blasting out windows which could be heard from blocks away.
According to police, the explosive device was placed in a metal container outside the Associated Blind Housing facility at 135 West 23rd Street. Thankfully, there were no fatalities, and all 29 people injured in the blast were released from hospital yesterday.
Source: www.cbc.ca
However, the suspected attack could have been much worse, with a second pressure cooker-style bomb with protruding wires and a cellphone attached found just four blocks away on West 27th Street. Luckily, that bomb failed to detonate, according to police, and was taken from the scene by a bomb removal robot.
A separate explosion on the same day also occurred during a Marine Corps charity run 83 miles away in neighbouring New Jersey. And again, thankfully no one was injured.
Although no links have been found to any global terrorist group, such as ISIS, the blast is being treated as a terrorist act, according to officials.
Pictured: Bill de Blasio, New York’s mayor / Source: www.nypost.com
Bill de Blasio, New York’s mayor, has stated that the bomb blast in NYC was an “intentional act,” and since the blast the Joint Terrorism Task Force has been called in to investigate.
“All possible theories of what’s happened here and how it connects will be looked at but we have no specific evidence at this point in time.”
Bill de Blasio, New York’s mayor, speaking to reporters (sourced from BBC).
In response to the suspected attack, an extra 1,000 security personal have been deployed to New York’s transport hubs.
Stay tuned to KarryOn for further updates as they come to light.
Does terrorism influence your decision to travel?
