2023 Rainbow Bridge explosion

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Coordinates: 43°5′17.7″N 79°3′50.8″W / 43.088250°N 79.064111°W / 43.088250; -79.064111
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Rainbow Bridge explosion
Security camera footage of the car crashing into the border checkpoint (background)
DateNovember 22, 2023; 5 days ago (2023-11-22)
Timec. 11:22 a.m. (EST)
LocationRainbow Bridge,
Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
Coordinates43°5′17.7″N 79°3′50.8″W / 43.088250°N 79.064111°W / 43.088250; -79.064111
TypeVehicle explosion
Deaths2
Non-fatal injuries1

On November 22, 2023, a car crashed and exploded at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, New York along the Canada–United States border, killing the vehicle's two occupants and injuring a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.

Background[edit]

The explosion occurred one day before the American observation of Thanksgiving, a period of heightened travel in the United States.[1] Fears of a terror attack had been heightened in New York following a report by the New York State Intelligence Center highlighting increased chatter about an attack within the state due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas War causing a rise of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Western sentiment. A police source had also stated that the incident could have been a result of a terrorist attack, but this was later denied in a police statement.[2]

Explosion[edit]

On November 22, 2023, at approximately 11:22 a.m.,[3] a white 2022 Bentley Flying Spur[4] exploded at the Rainbow Bridge.[5] According to several law enforcement sources, the driver entered the bridge plaza from the United States side of the bridge at a high speed.[6] Eyewitnesses said that the vehicle then crashed into the checkpoint structure, resulting in a fire and explosion.[7]

Victims[edit]

The car's two occupants were a husband and wife, both 53, of Grand Island, New York.[8]

Aftermath[edit]

The Buffalo Niagara International Airport increased security checks.[9][10] All four border crossings in the region—the Rainbow Bridge, Peace Bridge, Lewiston–Queenston Bridge and Whirlpool Bridge—were closed.[11] All bridges except for the Rainbow Bridge were reopened later in the day.[12] Amtrak temporarily suspended their cross-border services between New York and Ontario.[13]

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is coordinating its response with the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.[14] The Joint Terrorism Task Force and New York State Police are monitoring all points of entry into New York.[15]

Investigation[edit]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Border Services Agency investigated the incident.[16][17]

A preliminary assessment determined that the explosion was likely caused by a reckless driver.[18] No explosive devices were immediately found.[19] The mayor of Niagara Falls, New York, Robert Restaino, believed that the vehicle had experienced a sudden unintended acceleration as it approached the border checkpoint.[20] Niagara Falls Police Superintendent John Faso stated that Bentley had recalled certain Flying Spur models due to a manufacturing flaw that could cause the accelerator pedal to not return to its resting position when released by the driver, but that the recall was specific to model years 2018–2021, and the vehicle was a 2022 model.[4][21]

Reactions[edit]

United States[edit]

The White House is "closely monitoring" the incident.[22] President Joe Biden was briefed according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre;[23] Biden was in Nantucket, Massachusetts for Thanksgiving.[22] Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg was briefed about the explosion and spoke with Canadian Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez.[24][25] Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed according to the Department of Justice.[26]

A number of American politicians referred to the incident as a "attempted terrorist attack" in the immediate aftermath and following faulty reports from news outlets such as Fox News that it was such.[27] Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy used the incident to call for a wall to be built across the U.S.–Canadian border. Florida Republican representative Anna Paulina Luna called for the borders to be closed and that "full deportation efforts" needed to begin. Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake accused President Joe Biden of "inviting this kind of chaos into our country" and that "it was only a matter of time before bad people took him up on his offer". Upon further reports dismissing that the incident was terror–related, some walked back on their statements and others maintained their stances about border security.[28]

Canada[edit]

The Leader of the Conservative Party and the Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, questioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons about the incident at the beginning of Question Period, referring to it is a terror attack after reports made by CTV News.[29] Trudeau then remarked that the explosion was a "very serious situation" and departed for further briefing.[30][31] Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has been working alongside U.S. authorities, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and border service agencies.[11] The Toronto Police Service increased patrols around the city "out of an abundance of caution".[32]

Following reports dismissing that the incident was a terrorist attack, Poilievre blamed the CTV Television Network for reporting that Canadian security services were treating the incident as such, despite the report in question coming after his question to Trudeau.[29]

Reporting from the CBC says "The timestamp on the article indicates that it was published at 2:39 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Subsequent tweets from the article's author and CTV itself were published at 2:40 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. respectively. Poilievre asked his question at 2:25 p.m."[29]

However, a previous article released by CTV at 1:09 p.m. stated that "Canadian government officials were initially operating under the assumption that it was terror-related." This statement by CTV was cited in other publications released shortly thereafter, and before Poilievre spoke about the matter, in Parliament.[33] In an interview held by CBC later that day, former RCMP officer, Cam Kowalski, stated "until proven otherwise we have to assume it is a national security event."[34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Barrett, Devlin (November 22, 2023). "The Rainbow Bridge incident comes on one of America's busiest travel days and as security officials have expressed heightened concerns about possible attacks". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Kramer, Marcia (November 20, 2023). "Escalating violence in Gaza increasing chatter of possible terror attack in New York, intelligence report says". CBS News. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Murphy, Paul (November 22, 2023). "Surveillance camera video shows moment of vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Police provide more details on investigation into fiery crash at Rainbow Bridge". WGRZ. Tegna Inc. November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "FBI probing vehicle explosion attack at US-Canada bridge near Niagara Falls". Reuters. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Miller, John (November 22, 2023). "Vehicle exploded after accelerating at a high rate of speed, sources say". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  7. ^ DeGeorge, Kim; Adams, Saundra; Beilein, Olivia (November 22, 2023). "2 dead following explosion at Rainbow Bridge". wgrz.com. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "Niagara Falls police identify couple killed in Rainbow Bridge crash". The Independent. November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "Security increased at Buffalo, Niagara airports". BBC News. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Buffalo airport closed to international flights after explosion at US-Canada border - US FAA". Reuters. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Franklin, Jonathan (November 22, 2023). "Vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge closes U.S.-Canada border crossings". NPR. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Thompson, Carolyn; Peltz, Jennifer; Wawrow, John (November 22, 2023). "Fiery crash kills 2 at Niagara Falls' Rainbow border bridge. Officials say no sign of terrorism". Associated Press. Niagara Falls. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Muntean, Pete (November 22, 2023). "Amtrak temporarily suspends routes connecting New York and Canada, spokesperson says". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Souza, Sabrina (November 22, 2023). "All vehicles being screened at Buffalo airport in response to the Rainbow Bridge incident, official says". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  15. ^ Tebor, Celina (November 22, 2023). "FBI joint terrorism task force working with state authorities to monitor all points of entry to New York". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Collaco, Conrad; Chandler, Justin; Beattie, Samantha (November 22, 2023). "2 dead after blast at Rainbow Bridge linking Ontario-N.Y., governor says 'no sign' of terrorism". CBC.ca.
  17. ^ Tebor, Celina; Miller, John; Perez, Evan (November 22, 2023). "FBI investigating vehicle explosion that killed 2 car occupants at Rainbow Bridge on US-Canadian border". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  18. ^ "Explosion at US-Canada border caused by reckless driver". Reuters. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  19. ^ Meko, Hurubie (November 22, 2023). "2 Dead in Vehicle Explosion at U.S.-Canada Bridge in Niagara Falls". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  20. ^ "Rainbow Bridge explosion: Possible cause of Niagara Falls crash revealed". The Independent. November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "2018-2021 Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur recalled with risk of stuck accelerator". Drive. August 5, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Saenz, Arlette (November 22, 2023). "White House closely monitoring Rainbow Bridge incident, official says". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  23. ^ Klein, Betsy (November 22, 2023). "Biden briefed on bridge incident, White House says". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  24. ^ Rempfer, Kyle (November 22, 2023). "Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he has been briefed about the explosion, "and am in touch with my Canadian counterpart."". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  25. ^ Pablo Rodriguez [@pablorodriguez] (November 22, 2023). "I'm closely following the serious incident at the Rainbow Bridge, and I have been in contact with my U.S. counterpart. The Rainbow Bridge and other bridges on the US-Canada border remain closed. Please follow the instructions of local authorities" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Perez, Evan (November 22, 2023). "US attorney general briefed on vehicle explosion at the US-Canada border, Justice Department says". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  27. ^ Dunn, Billie Schwab (November 23, 2023). "Fox News Sparks Fury Over NY-Canada Border Explosion". Newsweek. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  28. ^ Palmer, Ewan (November 23, 2023). "Full List of Republicans Who Called Canada Border Explosion a Terrorist Attack". Newsweek. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  29. ^ a b c Major, Darren (November 23, 2023). "Poilievre points at media to explain Rainbow Bridge 'terrorist attack' comments". CBC News. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  30. ^ "PUBLIC SAFETY" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Canada: House of Commons of Canada. November 22, 2023. p. 18841.
  31. ^ Coletta, Amanda. "In Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament that the incident on the bridge was "a very serious situation" and said officials are working "to get answers as rapidly as possible."". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  32. ^ Razek, Raja (November 22, 2023). "Toronto police increase patrols throughout city "out of an abundance of caution"". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  33. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  34. ^ Special coverage: 2 dead after explosion at Rainbow Bridge connecting New York-Ontario, retrieved November 27, 2023
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