Federal authorities
conducted a traffic stop of a “vehicle of interest” in the Chelsea bombing
Sunday night in Brooklyn. A law enforcement source told Fox News that a “number
of individuals” who are possibly connected to the explosion were taken into
custody.
Law enforcement
officials told the Associated Press that at least 5 men were being questioned.
The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to talk about an ongoing investigation. The FBI said in a statement
that no one had been charged with any crime and the investigation was ongoing.
New York state Sen.
Marty Golden posted an Instagram photo, saying the FBI took “several
individuals” into custody on the Belt Parkway underneath the Verrazano Bridge
at around 8:40 p.m.
The FBI was also at
an Elizabeth, N.J. train station after a suspicious
package was found. The source told Fox News that it was unclear what
type of device was found or if there were any connections to the Chelsea
bombing or the explosion in Seaside Park, N.J.
New York City Mayor
Bill de Blasio said earlier Sunday that residents should expect a heightened
security presence as the investigation continued and when the United National
General Assembly kicks off, which draws leaders from around the world.
"Now for all
New Yorkers, a central message we want to give today is be vigilant," de Blasio
said during a news conference. "Be vigilant at this point in time, not
just because of this incident, be vigilant because we’re going into United
Nations General Assembly week."
The Democratic mayor
added that those in the city will see a "a very substantial" police
presence this week which he described as "bigger than ever."
"We would
normally have an expanded presence for the United Nations General
Assembly," de Blasio said. "You will see an even stronger presence
now."
New York Gov. Andrew
Cuomo added that he had directed state police and National Guard to deploy an
additional 1,000 uniformed police officers out an abundance of caution to
high-profile locations across the state.
"Out of an
abundance of caution, we are increasing security at high-profile locations
across the city, and all state agencies continue to remain on alert,"
Cuomo said in a statement.
A spokesman for the
United Nations told the Associated Press that the organization is assessing
security in the wake of the bombing as it prepares to host world leaders
arriving for the General Assembly.
U.N. Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric said Sunday that security inside the complex "is being
assessed on a constant basis."
He added that
security outside the U.N. is the responsibility of the host country.
"We receive
great cooperation and appreciate the support from the federal authorities and
the NYPD throughout the year, and especially during the General Assembly to
keep staff, delegates and visitors safe," Dujarric told the AP.
Cuomo, who toured the
site of the blast, said there didn't appear to be any link to international
terrorism. He said the second device appeared "similar in design" to
the first, but did not provide details.
A law enforcement
source told Fox News on Sunday that the explosive devices found in Seaside
Park, N.J. and New York City NY are believed to be from the same person.
A separate federal
law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the bomb contained
residue of an explosive often used for target practice that can be picked up in
many sporting goods stores.
The discovery of
Tannerite in materials recovered may be important as authorities probe whether
the blast was connected to an unexploded pressure-cooker device found by state
troopers just blocks away, as well as a pipe bomb blast in a New Jersey shore
town earlier in the day.
"We're going to
be very careful and patient to get to the full truth here," de Blasio said
Sunday. "We have more work to do to be able to say what kind of motivation
was behind this. Was it a political motivation? A personal motivation? What was
it? We do not know that yet."
Cell phones were
discovered at the site of both bombings, but no Tannerite residue was
identified in the New Jersey bomb remnants, in which a black powder was
detected, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity because the official was not authorized to comment on an ongoing
investigation.
Authorities said the
Manhattan bombing and the blast 11 hours earlier at the site of a 5K race to
benefit Marines and sailors in Seaside Park, New Jersey, didn't appear to be
connected, though they weren't ruling anything out. The New Jersey race was cancelled
and no one was injured.
Officials haven't
revealed any details about the makeup of the pressure-cooker device, except to
say it had wires and a cellphone attached to it.
Tannerite, which is
often used in target practice to mark a shot with a cloud of smoke and small
explosion, is legal to purchase and can be found in many sporting goods stores.
Experts said a large amount would be required to create a blast like the one
Saturday night, as well as an accelerant or other igniter.
Police and federal
spokespeople wouldn't comment on the presence of explosive material recovered
at the scene.
The bomb in
Manhattan appeared to have been placed near a large dumpster in front of a
building undergoing construction, another law enforcement official, speaking on
condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation, told the AP. The
second device, described by the same official as a pressure cooker with wires
and a cellphone attached to it, was removed early Sunday by a bomb squad robot
and New York City police were preparing to blow it up in a controlled explosion
later in the day, authorities said.
Homemade pressure
cooker bombs were used in the Boston Marathon attacks in 2013 that killed three
people and injured more than 260.
Officials solicited
tips from the public, telling reporters at a news conference in the New York
Police Department's headquarters that they didn't know who set off the bomb or
why.
Members of the FBI's
Joint Terrorism Task Force were investigating the blast along with New York
Police Department detectives, fire marshals and other federal investigators.
Meanwhile, a law
enforcement official said federal investigators had discounted a claim of
responsibility on the social blogging service Tumblr. Investigators looked into
it and didn't consider it relevant to the case, according to an official who
spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
Fox news
Follow Solenzo Blog on
0 Comments