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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/sep/18/manhattan-explosion-several-injured-in-blast-rolling-report
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| Manhattan explosion: New York mayor says 'no evidence yet of terror link' – live | Manhattan explosion: New York mayor says 'no evidence yet of terror link' – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.29am BST | |
| 05:29 | |
| 5.26am BST | |
| 05:26 | |
| The New York Times has reported that the White House has issued a brief statement confirming that President Obama has been briefed on the developing situation in New York. | |
| “The president has been apprised of the explosion in New York City, the cause of which remains under investigation. The president will be updated as additional information becomes available.” | |
| Hillary Clinton’s campaign said she was informed of the blast after she gave a speech at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual awards dinner. | |
| Donald Trump, campaigning in Colorado Springs, was the first to respond. He spoke of a “bomb” in New York just 45 minutes after the explosion was first reported – “before the authorities had made any determinations about what had happened and while the situation was still in flux”, as the Times notes. | |
| 5.16am BST | |
| 05:16 | |
| Possible second device on 27th St a 'suspicious package' | |
| J Peter Donald, the assistant commissioner for communication and public information for NYPD, who earlier confirmed the discovery of a possible second device, has tweeted an update asking residents of West 27th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues to “stay away from windows”. | |
| Update on West 27th Street in Manhattan pic.twitter.com/PHjcTCXoER | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.28am BST | |
| 5.13am BST | |
| 05:13 | |
| Here’s mayor Bill de Blasio’s introduction to the the recent press conference that concluded in the last hour. The entire presser was broadcast on Facebook Live and can be watched on the NYPD’s page. | |
| “Tonight New York City experienced a very serious incident. All elements of our first responders have been a part of the operation ... all hands are on deck. Injuries are significant ... At this point we can confirm that none of those injured are likely to die. | |
| “We also want to be upfront saying that there is no evidence that there is a terror connection to this incident. This is preliminary information, this is something that we will be investigating very carefully, but there is no evidence at this point of a terror connection. | |
| “I also want to affirm that based on what we know at this hour there is no specific connection to the incident in New Jersey. It is again too early to say anything definitive on those questions but there’s no specific evidence of a connection at this point. | |
| “I want to say more broadly, there is no specific and credible threat against New York city in this point of time, from any terror organisation … But we do want to be very clear. The early indications, the initial indications is that this was an intentional act. | |
| “We’re going to have a lot more to say in the coming hours as we have more detailed analysis ... I want to assure all New Yorkers that the NYPD and other agencies are at full alert and that our anti-terror capacity in particular is at full alert … | |
| “I want to be clear, whatever the cause, whatever the intention here, New Yorkers will not be intimidated. We are not going to let anyone change who we are or how we go about our lives. We have the best police force in the country … making sure we can be safe here.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.28am BST | |
| 5.05am BST | |
| 05:05 | |
| Police commissioner James O’Neill confirmed that the explosion occurred in front of 131 West 23rd St – the King David Gallery, an interior design shop specialising in glass and mirror products. | |
| Authorities with flashlights can be seen outside the gallery in the first ten seconds of this clip posted to YouTube on Saturday night. | |
| Camelia Entekhabifard, a political commentator and author, was tweeting from the scene. An observer told her that the gallery had been “shattered” in the explosion, and the owner had watched it on a webcam at home. | |
| An observer told me The King David gallery 6Ave & 23st shattered by explosion.The owner saw that from webcam at home. #Chelsea #Manhattan | |
| She said 125 23rd St, “an old hotel”, had been demolished in the blast. | |
| Also in the vicinity of the explosion was an Associated Blind Housing facility at 135 W. 23rd St. | |
| 4.54am BST | 4.54am BST |
| 04:54 | 04:54 |
| This clip from a security camera posted to Twitter purports to show the moment the explosion occurred – at the 23-second mark. | |
| Video shows moment of IED Explosion at W 23 St & 6th Ave in Manhattan pic.twitter.com/O270bZWOzF | Video shows moment of IED Explosion at W 23 St & 6th Ave in Manhattan pic.twitter.com/O270bZWOzF |
| Updated | |
| at 5.05am BST | |
| 4.49am BST | 4.49am BST |
| 04:49 | 04:49 |
| Let’s recap the press conference with mayor Bill de Blasio, police commissioner James O’Neill, and fire commissioner Daniel Nigro that just concluded. | Let’s recap the press conference with mayor Bill de Blasio, police commissioner James O’Neill, and fire commissioner Daniel Nigro that just concluded. |
| Updated | |
| at 5.05am BST | |
| 4.33am BST | 4.33am BST |
| 04:33 | 04:33 |
| Chelsea resident Soleil Philomena, carrying her grey mongrel dog Wolfie in a black shoulder bag, told David Taylor of Guardian US that she had just left a grocery store at W23rd and 7th Avenue when the blast happened. | Chelsea resident Soleil Philomena, carrying her grey mongrel dog Wolfie in a black shoulder bag, told David Taylor of Guardian US that she had just left a grocery store at W23rd and 7th Avenue when the blast happened. |
| “I came back out and I heard ‘boom!’ I thought it was fireworks, but everything was shaking, the buildings, my body was shaking. | “I came back out and I heard ‘boom!’ I thought it was fireworks, but everything was shaking, the buildings, my body was shaking. |
| “I looked up there was a big cloud of smoke. I saw smoke, it was like a mushroom cloud of black smoke. People started running past me and I started running with them. Then we were hugging each other – everyone was so shocked.” | “I looked up there was a big cloud of smoke. I saw smoke, it was like a mushroom cloud of black smoke. People started running past me and I started running with them. Then we were hugging each other – everyone was so shocked.” |
| She went into a nearby branch of Whole Foods where she said she felt safe. “The noise was like one of those cherry bombs, but a thousand times louder.” | She went into a nearby branch of Whole Foods where she said she felt safe. “The noise was like one of those cherry bombs, but a thousand times louder.” |
| Updated | |
| at 5.07am BST | |
| 4.28am BST | 4.28am BST |
| 04:28 | 04:28 |
| Injury count now 29, one serious | Injury count now 29, one serious |
| Police commissioner James O’Neill and fire commissioner Daniel Nigro have both addressed media with an updated injury count. | Police commissioner James O’Neill and fire commissioner Daniel Nigro have both addressed media with an updated injury count. |
| 29 people were injured in the blast with one considered serious. Twenty-four have been transported to area hospitals with scrapes and abrasions, said Nigro. “Thankfully none of these are life-threatening injuries.” | 29 people were injured in the blast with one considered serious. Twenty-four have been transported to area hospitals with scrapes and abrasions, said Nigro. “Thankfully none of these are life-threatening injuries.” |
| Mayor Bill de Blasio refused to respond to a reporter’s question that the blast had been caused by a been a bomb in a dumpster, as has been reported, but reiterated that he believed the attack was intentional. | Mayor Bill de Blasio refused to respond to a reporter’s question that the blast had been caused by a been a bomb in a dumpster, as has been reported, but reiterated that he believed the attack was intentional. |
| “At this moment, we do not see a link to terrorism.” | “At this moment, we do not see a link to terrorism.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.41am BST | at 4.41am BST |
| 4.24am BST | 4.24am BST |
| 04:24 | 04:24 |
| Mayor Bill de Blasio: no evidence of terror connection | Mayor Bill de Blasio: no evidence of terror connection |
| Bill de Blasio is addressing media on the “very serious incident”. Authorities are treating it as intentional attack, but there is no evidence as yet of a terror connection. | Bill de Blasio is addressing media on the “very serious incident”. Authorities are treating it as intentional attack, but there is no evidence as yet of a terror connection. |
| “All hands are on deck. Injuries are significant. ... At this point we can confirm that none of those injured are likely to die.” | “All hands are on deck. Injuries are significant. ... At this point we can confirm that none of those injured are likely to die.” |
| There was “no evidence at this point of a terror connection”, though he stressed that all findings were preliminary. | There was “no evidence at this point of a terror connection”, though he stressed that all findings were preliminary. |
| There was also “no specific evidence of a connection” to the pipe bomb that detonated earlier that day in New Jersey. | There was also “no specific evidence of a connection” to the pipe bomb that detonated earlier that day in New Jersey. |
| “New Yorkers will not be intimated,” said de Blasio. “We’re not going to let anybody change who we are and how we go about our lives.” | “New Yorkers will not be intimated,” said de Blasio. “We’re not going to let anybody change who we are and how we go about our lives.” |
| 4.18am BST | 4.18am BST |
| 04:18 | 04:18 |
| J Peter Donald, the assistant commissioner for communication and public information for NYPD, has confirmed the discovery of that possible second device on West 27th Street. | J Peter Donald, the assistant commissioner for communication and public information for NYPD, has confirmed the discovery of that possible second device on West 27th Street. |
| W. 27th Street is closed as we are investigating a second potential device. Please stay clear. @NYPDnews | W. 27th Street is closed as we are investigating a second potential device. Please stay clear. @NYPDnews |
| A press conference is expected any minute. Richard Quest, a correspondent with CNN, has described the mood on the scene as one of urgency, particularly on 23rd Street and 27th Street. | A press conference is expected any minute. Richard Quest, a correspondent with CNN, has described the mood on the scene as one of urgency, particularly on 23rd Street and 27th Street. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.26am BST | at 4.26am BST |
| 4.14am BST | 4.14am BST |
| 04:14 | 04:14 |
| 'Possible secondary device' found | 'Possible secondary device' found |
| Chief Harry J Wedin, chief of the NYPD’s special operations division, has tweeted that a possible secondary device has been located, and advised people to avoid the area. | Chief Harry J Wedin, chief of the NYPD’s special operations division, has tweeted that a possible secondary device has been located, and advised people to avoid the area. |
| A possible secondary device has been located @ 27th Street, 6th - 7th Avenues. #NYPD nvestigations are ongoing. Avoid the area @NYPD13Pct | A possible secondary device has been located @ 27th Street, 6th - 7th Avenues. #NYPD nvestigations are ongoing. Avoid the area @NYPD13Pct |
| The cause of the blast is still not yet known, though CNN has reported that a gas explosion has been ruled out. | The cause of the blast is still not yet known, though CNN has reported that a gas explosion has been ruled out. |
| Gas has been ruled out as the cause of the New York explosion. https://t.co/cpgJgDr4X5 pic.twitter.com/J0scLDwMG2 | Gas has been ruled out as the cause of the New York explosion. https://t.co/cpgJgDr4X5 pic.twitter.com/J0scLDwMG2 |
| The number of people injured remains 25. | The number of people injured remains 25. |
| Jenna DeAngelis, a reporter with Fox, has shared images taken at the scene that show some of the emergency response. | Jenna DeAngelis, a reporter with Fox, has shared images taken at the scene that show some of the emergency response. |
| Explosion reported in NYC, W 23rd st. and 6th ave. Pics from my sister who lives in the area. pic.twitter.com/F0sMfrZvrL | Explosion reported in NYC, W 23rd st. and 6th ave. Pics from my sister who lives in the area. pic.twitter.com/F0sMfrZvrL |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.26am BST | at 4.26am BST |
| 4.02am BST | 4.02am BST |
| 04:02 | 04:02 |
| Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD commissioner James O’Neill and others are expected to give a press conference shortly. | Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD commissioner James O’Neill and others are expected to give a press conference shortly. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.19am BST | at 4.19am BST |
| 4.00am BST | 4.00am BST |
| 04:00 | 04:00 |
| Blast 'like a volcano' | Blast 'like a volcano' |
| Dave Taylor, my colleague at Guardian US, is at the scene. | Dave Taylor, my colleague at Guardian US, is at the scene. |
| Deborah Griffith, a witness, told him she was shopping at Home Depot, seven doors away, when the blast happened. It was “real loud”, she said – her first thought was that it was a gas explosion. | Deborah Griffith, a witness, told him she was shopping at Home Depot, seven doors away, when the blast happened. It was “real loud”, she said – her first thought was that it was a gas explosion. |
| She described it as “like a volcano”, she said: red at the centre, a wall of flames. “The explosion was so big – people were running – for their lives.” | She described it as “like a volcano”, she said: red at the centre, a wall of flames. “The explosion was so big – people were running – for their lives.” |
| The New York Times has reported that the blast shattered windows in a five-storey brownstone building and sent debris into the street. Though the location and cause of the explosion were still being investigated, the fire department has received a report that it emanated from a dumpster. | The New York Times has reported that the blast shattered windows in a five-storey brownstone building and sent debris into the street. Though the location and cause of the explosion were still being investigated, the fire department has received a report that it emanated from a dumpster. |
| The New York Police Department’s counterterrorism department, which said it is “actively monitoring” the situation in Chelsea, has shared an image appearing to show a dumpster that had been caught up in the blast to Twitter. | The New York Police Department’s counterterrorism department, which said it is “actively monitoring” the situation in Chelsea, has shared an image appearing to show a dumpster that had been caught up in the blast to Twitter. |
| #Update re: Explosion (photo) pic.twitter.com/AtqllF3JEZ | #Update re: Explosion (photo) pic.twitter.com/AtqllF3JEZ |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.08am BST | |
| 3.49am BST | 3.49am BST |
| 03:49 | 03:49 |
| Pipe bomb in New Jersey targeted Marines event | Pipe bomb in New Jersey targeted Marines event |
| The blast in Manhattan follows the discovery of a pipe bomb in New Jersey earlier in the day. | The blast in Manhattan follows the discovery of a pipe bomb in New Jersey earlier in the day. |
| Law enforcement sources said the pipe bomb was hidden in a bin near the course of a scheduled 5km race in support of the US Marines and sailors in Seaside Park, down the east coast from New York. | Law enforcement sources said the pipe bomb was hidden in a bin near the course of a scheduled 5km race in support of the US Marines and sailors in Seaside Park, down the east coast from New York. |
| No one was injured in the blast at about 9.30am, but there were other devices that failed to explode. The Semper Five run was delayed and subsequently cancelled. | No one was injured in the blast at about 9.30am, but there were other devices that failed to explode. The Semper Five run was delayed and subsequently cancelled. |
| Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office, said it was “obvious” that the blast was meant to affect the run. | Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office, said it was “obvious” that the blast was meant to affect the run. |
| Asked if marines and their families had been targeted, he said: “I think we can assume that, considering the location of the device right along the run route where, if it was just a matter of minutes in terms of difference, there would have been a good number of people running past that explosive device.” | Asked if marines and their families had been targeted, he said: “I think we can assume that, considering the location of the device right along the run route where, if it was just a matter of minutes in terms of difference, there would have been a good number of people running past that explosive device.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.51am BST | at 3.51am BST |
| 3.45am BST | 3.45am BST |
| 03:45 | 03:45 |
| Several injured after explosion in Manhattan | Several injured after explosion in Manhattan |
| Elle Hunt | Elle Hunt |
| Several people have been injured in an explosion in the Chelsea area of Manhattan on Saturday night. | Several people have been injured in an explosion in the Chelsea area of Manhattan on Saturday night. |
| New York authorities confirmed that 25 people had been taken to area hospitals, though none appeared to have life-threatening injuries. | New York authorities confirmed that 25 people had been taken to area hospitals, though none appeared to have life-threatening injuries. |
| The cause of the explosion, which occurred at about 8.30pm on 23rd street between 6th and 7th avenues, was not yet known, but witnesses said FBI and Homeland Security officials were at the scene. | The cause of the explosion, which occurred at about 8.30pm on 23rd street between 6th and 7th avenues, was not yet known, but witnesses said FBI and Homeland Security officials were at the scene. |
| But speaking at a rally in Colorado Springs, Donald Trump was quick to classify the blast as a “bomb”. | But speaking at a rally in Colorado Springs, Donald Trump was quick to classify the blast as a “bomb”. |
| According to pool reporters, the Republican presidential candidate said moments after leaving his plane: “I must tell you that just before I got off the plane, a bomb went off in New York and nobody knows exactly what’s going on but, boy we are really in a time – we better get very tough, folks.” | According to pool reporters, the Republican presidential candidate said moments after leaving his plane: “I must tell you that just before I got off the plane, a bomb went off in New York and nobody knows exactly what’s going on but, boy we are really in a time – we better get very tough, folks.” |
| We’ll report on updates on this developing story as they come to light. | We’ll report on updates on this developing story as they come to light. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.47am BST | at 3.47am BST |