FBI terrorism task force descends on Niagara Falls after border vehicle explosion on US side

Two people are dead in a suspected terrorist attack at the Rainbow Bridge that connects the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls after a car exploded on the U.S. side of the border crossing.

Police sources told Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams that the explosion was an attempted terror attack and the vehicle was full of explosives. Two men in the car are dead, according to the police sources. Sources told ABC News that investigators located some sort of briefcase or suitcase at the scene of the explosion. The investigators are treating the object as a possible explosive device as a precaution and the bomb squad is handling the package.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said on X that she is monitoring the situation closely and asked the New York State Police to work with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to “monitor all points of entry to New York.”

It is unclear whether the vehicle, which exploded on the U.S. side, was traveling to or from Canada at the time or if it had passed through the border checkpoint. Earlier, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said the vehicle was crossing into the U.S. from Canada via ABC News. A witness told WGRZ-TV that he saw a vehicle speeding toward the crossing from the U.S. side of the border when it swerved in an attempt to avoid another car and crashed into a fence, exploding.

ABC News correspondent Aaron Katersky said sources told him surveillance video shows the vehicle being stopped at the U.S.-Canada border before reaching the Rainbow Bridge. The car was transferred to a second checkpoint, at which point the video showed the car speeding up before it crashed and exploded.

Derek Gee/AP

It appears as though the vehicle was driving toward a building when the explosion occurred.

Police are investigating whether a second car was involved, but no other vehicles have been found or connected to the suspected attack, according to Fox.

The FBI in Buffalo, New York, said in a statement that agents are investigating a “vehicle explosion” and working with local, state, and federal law enforcement.

“As this situation is very fluid, that’s all we can say at this time,” the FBI said.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad is responding to the vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge, per a video captured by local outlet WKBW. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosions (ATF) New York is responding to the scene, as well.

Ron Rienas, general manager of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, told ABC News that all four U.S.-Canada bridges that go over the Niagara River have been closed while the investigation continues. A large police presence has gathered in the area, according to several videos.

In response to the vehicle explosion, the Niagara Falls International Airport is increasing security at the airport and rail system. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport is open but K-9 units will be checking vehicles coming through the airport.

“I am traveling to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement & emergency responders & will update New Yorkers when more information becomes available,” Hochul said.

Photos shared with local outlet WGRZ-TV by a witness show the remains of what appears to be a vehicle, smoke, and flames.

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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the Rainbow Bridge explosion and he and his team are “closely following developments.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.