De Blasio: No Evidence that Explosion in Manhattan Is Terrorism

Slug: Explosion on 23rd and 7th ave Date Taken: Location: New York, NY Mandatory Credit:
Mona Salama

***UPDATE*** 11:41 p.m. ET

According to an FDNY official addressing a hastily arranged press conference with the mayor, out of 29 persons injured, 26 sustained minor “scrapes and abrasions,” one victim was seriously injured, and the condition of two others was currently unknown.

Mayor de Blasio, asked by a reporter whether the blast was terror-related, said, “At this moment, we do not see a link to terrorism.” He added, “There was also no specific evidence of a connection” to the pipe bomb that detonated earlier in the day in New Jersey.

De Blasio stated, ” New Yorkers will not be intimidated. We’re not going to let anybody change who we are and how we go about our lives.”

According to the NYPD, the “investigation is active and extensive.”

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NEW YORK CITY, New York

The NYPD, FDNY, and the NYPD counterterrorism unit are investigating an explosion that injured 26 people shortly after 8:30 in Chelsea, Manhattan.

The IED explosion was reported at 23rd Street and 6th Avenue.

NYPD officials didn’t have further details on the exact cause of the explosion but were able to determine that it was an intentional act. Multiple injuries occurred, although none were labled life-threatening.

On Twitter, Mayor Bill de Blasio stated he was coordinating with newly minted NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill in gathering facts about the cause of the explosion.

Earlier Saturday, a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey close by a U.S. Marine charity run. The device,according to reports, was placed in a garbage can.

Developments are ongoing.

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