Explosion rocks Manhattan neighbourhood, 29 hurt
A second explosive device also recovered
PTI
New York
A powerful explosion struck a bustling upscale neighbourhood in New York injuring 29 people in what the mayor Sunday described as an “intentional act” as police found a second explosive device nearby, a pressure cooker with wires, hours before world leaders descend here for the 71st UN General Assembly session.
The explosion - which happened shortly after a pipe bomb went off in a garbage can in New Jersey - occurred in Manhattan's Chelsea neighbourhood, a busy residential and commercial area frequented by tourists and city residents.
The impact damaged windows of nearby buildings and cars and sent crowds running from the scene. The blast seemed to shake the entire block, sending debris into the street.
There were no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast that occurred at 8.30 pm local time Saturday, a busy time of the weekend for over 8 million New Yorkers, who just marked the 15th anniversary of the September 2001 attacks.
Police said they have a surveillance video from the scene, but it was too early to give out details except that the explosion was caused by an explosive device in a dumpster.
They were combing through the video that appears to show a person near the site of the blast, in an attempt to determine if that individual is connected to the blast, CNN reported.
Other reports said the second device was a pressure cooker resembling the one used in the deadly Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said all 29 victims have been released from hospitals. Many of the injuries were caused by shrapnel.
He told reporters that 1,000 additional New York State Police officers and National Guard troops will be deployed to patrol bus terminals, airports and subway stations.
The deployment is “just to err on the side of caution,” he said. “I want New Yorkers to be confident when they go back to work on Monday that New York is up and running and we're doing everything that we need to do. There is no evidence of an international terrorism link and no reason to believe there is any further immediate threat but the bottom line is whoever placed these bombs we will find them and they will be brought to justice and punished. Period,” Cuomo said.
“(But) it depends on your definition of terrorism. A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism, but it's not linked to international terrorism,” he said.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the blast an “intentional act” but he too said there was no evidence of a terror link at this point. “We are not going to let anyone change us, intimidate us.” He said the city “experienced a very serious incident” but there was “no specific and credible threat at this time from any terror organisation.” Authorities said “extensive search” is being conducted in the area. Security was already tight in the American financial capital as nearly 190 world leaders are to arrive in the city for the nearly week-long 71st UN General Assembly session.
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Busy nightlife area
Chelsea is packed with restaurants, subway stations, shops, businesses and art galleries and normally buzzing on a weekend night. 23rd street, where the explosion occurred, is in the heart of Chelsea, CNN's Richard Quest explains.
It is not as bohemian as many have thought in previous times, Quest says. He notes Chelsea is one of the most expensive areas in the city now because of wealthy people moving to the area.
Chelsea is also still very much regarded and known for its inclusion of the gay community and the gay bars in the area, Quest says. He notes one of the most famous fashion colleges, FIT, is just blocks away.
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Obama briefed on explosion ahead of his visit
Washington
US President Barack Obama was Sunday apprised of an “intentional” explosion that rocked a posh New York neighbourhood in which at least 29 people were injured, hours before his arrival in the city for the high-level UN General Assembly session.
“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,” a White House official said.
Obama is scheduled to travel to New York and stay in the city for the next several days to attend the United Nations General Assembly session beginning Monday.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio described the explosion as an “intentional act” but said there is no evidence at this point of a terror link.
Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, was also briefed about the New York explosion.
She was in the Washington DC addressing the Congressional Black Caucus dinner.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said late Saturday night that it is important to know the facts before drawing conclusions about incidents such as the explosion in New York City.
Asked what she thought of her Republican opponent Donald Trump immediately referring to the explosion as a bomb earlier Saturday night, Clinton said: “I think it's important to know the facts about any incident like this.” Trump made his comments shortly after getting off a plane at a rally held in a hanger in Colorado Springs. Trump also said tough measures needs to be taken.
“We better get very tough. We''ll find out. It's a terrible thing that's going on in our world and in our country and we are going to get tough and smart and vigilant. We'll see what it is,” Trump said.
