The specter of terrorism hangs over the United States again even if nothing is established. An explosion in the upscale and very lively district of Chelsea in New York (United States) left 29 injured on Saturday evening, including one more serious, who had all left the hospital on Sunday evening. The detonation, of which it is not known who could have caused it, occurred near the UN General Assembly but did not give rise to any claims according to the police. Some 1,000 additional police officers were deployed “as a precaution”.
“We know there was a bomb, that’s clear. But we will have to work a lot more to find out what motivation was behind: was it a personal motivation, a political motivation, we do not know yet ”, declared Sunday evening the mayor Bill De Blasio to the press . “A bomb exploding in New York is clearly an act of terrorism, but it is unrelated to international terrorism. In other words, we haven’t found any connection with ISIS or whatever, ”Governor Andrex Cuomo said.
Bomb in New Jersey and Attack in Minesotta
Investigators had found no evidence of a link between a bomb explosion in New York, the discovery of an explosive device in New Jersey and a knife attack in Minnesota (8 injured), claimed by the Islamic State group and deemed “potentially terrorist” by FBI investigators.
The explosion took place around 8:30 p.m. local (2:30 a.m. in France) on 23rd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, an upscale Manhattan neighborhood with many bars and restaurants, very busy on Saturday nights. According to local media, the explosion started from a garbage can.
Witnesses spoke of a violent explosion, which resounded throughout the neighborhood. Broken glass was visible in front of some doors and storefronts, many of which closed very quickly. The windows of cars parked nearby were blown. The sirens echoed throughout the evening in the neighborhood, overflown by helicopters. The police cordoned off the area, but did not evacuate it.
VIDEO. New York: the explosion was “intentional”
VIDEO. Explosion à New York
No link with international terrorism according to the governor
The mayor of the city Bill de Blasio initially indicated that it was an “intentional” explosion. “But there is no proof at this stage of a terrorist link for this incident”, he added, while stressing that the information remained “preliminary”. According to the governor of the State of New York, Andrew Cuomo, who spoke this Sunday, the explosion results from a “bomb” but has “no link with international terrorism”. The motivation for the attack remains unknown, the New York City Hall clarified in the evening.
A second explosive device found
The police also raised the possibility of a second explosive device which would have been found four blocks of buildings further, without giving details, stressing that the investigation was continuing. According to the media, this second device would consist in particular of a pressure cooker connected by a small cable to a cell phone.
A possible secondary device has been located @ 27th Street, 6th – 7th Avenues. #NYPD nvestigations are ongoing. Avoid the area @NYPD13Pct
— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) September 18, 2016
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The mayor also indicated that at this point there was no connection with what happened a few hours earlier in New Jersey. A homemade bomb placed in a trash can in Seaside Park had exploded without causing injury near the course of a run organized by the US Marines.A bomb before a race in New Jersey
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The machine was programmed to explode when hundreds of runners in this 5-kilometer race were to pass near the trash. But the start of the event having been delayed, the explosion did not cause any injuries, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the local prosecutor.
The two incidents aroused fears of attacks, while the memory of September 11, 2001 remains deeply anchored in the memory of New Yorkers.
Security measures are ubiquitous in New York, with identity checks at the entrance of many buildings and a heavy police presence at many public sites. On Sunday, the site of the explosion attracted hundreds of curious people: many New Yorkers took advantage of their day off to come and observe the scene and take pictures.
Trump “severe”, Clinton “wise”
If a terrorist link were established, the incident could weigh on the presidential campaign on November 8, which pits Democrat and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton against Republican candidate Donald Trump.
The latter did not hesitate, from Colorado Springs, to declare that “a bomb exploded in New York”. “We’re going to have to be severe, friends, very, very severe,” he added. In a tweet Sunday morning, he even went so far as to offer his “condolences” to the families of the victims … even though there were no deaths.
I would like to express my warmest regards, best wishes and condolences to all of the families and victims of the horrible bombing in NYC.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2016
“I think it’s always wiser to wait until you have the information before drawing conclusions,” replied Hillary Clinton, who wants to present herself as an experienced and wise candidate in the face of an unpredictable competitor.
She finally condemned Sunday “the apparently terrorist attacks in Minnesota, New Jersey and New York” and took the opportunity to recall that she had prepared a comprehensive plan to “defeat ISIS and other terrorist groups.”
Clinton condemns ‘apparent terrorist attacks’ in New Jersey, New York, Minnesota https://t.co/XGEFSXPP8B pic.twitter.com/TRvJq9KZFo
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) September 18, 2016
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