‘Vehicle explosion’ at US-Canada border crossing: two dead

Two people were killed in a “vehicle explosion” at the US-Canada border crossing. The incident took place on Wednesday near Niagara Falls, CBS News reported, citing sources.

New York: At least two people were killed Wednesday afternoon in a “vehicle explosion” that occurred at the U.S.-Canada border crossing at Niagara Falls, CBS News reported, citing sources. The area is cordoned off and the border crossing is closed. According to law enforcement officials quoted by CBS News, the persons killed were in the vehicle that exploded. However, the nationalities of the deceased persons are not yet known, officials said. The vehicle came from the US side, hit the customs office and started burning. The reason for the explosion has yet to be determined, a senior US law enforcement official told CBS News.

A senior government official described the incident as “more than a freak accident,” but also clarified that they have no details about the incident at this time.

According to a Canadian visitor to New York, he was walking nearby when the explosion occurred and saw the car driving at high speed toward the border crossing.

“And he was flying over 100 miles per hour. There was a car in front of him, he swerved, went in front of the car, hit the fence, flew into the air… and we saw the fireball, and that’s all we could see, there was just smoke everywhere,” said he according to CBS News.

Meanwhile, the FBI Buffalo Field Office issued a statement saying: “The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a U.S.-Canada border crossing in Niagara Falls. The FBI is coordinating this investigation with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. As this situation is very fluid, that is all we can say at this time,” the department shared the statement on X (formerly Twitter).

The Rainbow Bridge, which connects Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and Niagara Falls, New York, is a popular tourist attraction. In addition to the Rainbow Bridge, other border crossings in the area include the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge and the Peace Bridge.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement that the New York State Police are investigating the matter along with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry into New York.

Hochul added that she stated that as of now she is heading to Buffalo to “meet with law enforcement and first responders” and take stock of the situation.

The Rainbow Bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada near Niagara Falls has been closed as federal authorities in Buffalo, New York, say an investigation is underway.