Car explodes at US border with Canada
A car races towards a border crossing in the USA, flies a few meters through the air and bursts into flames: The mysterious incident on the border between the USA and Canada temporarily sparked fears of a terrorist attack.
A few hours later, the authorities gave the all-clear: it was not believed to be a terrorist attack, said the governor of the US state of New York, Kathy Hochul. However, two occupants of the car had died in the incident near the world-famous Niagara Falls and a border guard had suffered minor injuries. Footage suggests that even worse could have happened.
The explosion occurred on Wednesday, one day before the Thanksgiving holiday known in North America as Thanksgiving. It is the most important family celebration in the USA - and the days surrounding the holiday on Thursday are the busiest time of the year for travel.
"When you see the video, your jaw will drop"
"The stress level is already high. We have been on heightened alert since October 7," said Governor Hochul, referring to the unprecedented massacre by Hamas terrorists in Israel and the global reaction to developments in the Middle East. In the USA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had also warned of an increased risk of terrorism in this context. It was therefore important for them to reassure people first, explained Hochul.
The incident took place in the city of Niagara Falls on the Rainbow Bridge - a bridge that connects Canada and the USA. Surveillance camera footage showed the unbelievable scene: the car races towards the border crossing on the US side at high speed, hits the central reservation and is catapulted into the air in spectacular fashion. It flies over a fence and explodes - after several meters in the air - when it lands. "When you see this video, your jaw will drop," said Hochul.
New video shows car crashing into checkpoint at the U.S.-Canadian border in Niagara Falls, killing 2 people inside the car pic.twitter.com/xTA3SZQ1fq
— BNO News (@BNONews) November 22, 2023
The governor emphasized that it was unclear whether the driver had deliberately driven towards the border crossing at this speed. Therefore, she did not want to speak of an accident. The authorities did not initially provide any information on the identity of the two occupants, who could only be recovered dead. CNN reported on Thursday, citing investigative circles, that it was probably a married couple and that the man had wanted to go to a concert by the rock band Kiss in Canada, but that this had been canceled. Instead, he then drove to a casino, it was further reported.
The "New York Times" also reported, citing police sources, that the driver was probably a regular gambler there and frequently crossed the border between the USA and Canada, but had no criminal past. According to initial findings of the investigation, he had also not been conspicuous online with hate comments. There are several casinos in the region.
FBI completes investigation on site
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) finally announced the conclusion of its investigation at the scene late on Wednesday evening (local time). No explosives or evidence of a terrorist background were found. Instead, the events were classified as a case for the traffic police.
The Rainbow Bridge is not far from Niagara Falls and tourists can cross it on foot. From there you can enjoy an impressive view of the falls. The bridge is also open to cars - there are major border crossings on both the Canadian and US sides.
After the incident, the authorities took a number of safety precautions. Several border crossings between Canada and the USA have since been closed, and train services between the US state of New York and Canada have also been suspended. US President Joe Biden was informed of the incident. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in parliament: "We are taking this extremely seriously."
Despite the absence of explosives or terrorist links, the car incident at the US-Canada border remains a mystery. Emergencies and accidents along border crossings can lead to temporary closures and disruptions, as witnessed in this unfortunate case. Two individuals lost their lives in the high-speed collision and explosion, further underscoring the potential dangers associated with such emergencies.
Source: www.dpa.com
