NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- The FBI concluded its investigation into Wednesday's Rainbow Bridge explosion, finding no links to terrorism, and has handed the case over to the Niagara Falls Police Department.
On Wednesday, a vehicle speeding towards the U.S.-Canada border crashed and exploded at the bridge at around 11: 30 a.m, resulting in two fatalities and the closure of several border crossings.
In a statement released Wednesday night, the FBI said, "FBI Buffalo has concluded our investigation at the scene of the Rainbow Bridge incident. A search of the scene revealed no explosive materials and no terrorism nexus was identified. The matter has been turned over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation.”
The incident was initially reported as a 'vehicle explosion' on the Rainbow Bridge, which links Niagara Falls, Canada, to Niagara Falls, New York.
It was actually a high-speed crash involving a vehicle that hit a median on the U.S. side of the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge while speeding toward Canada. The car was traveling at an extraordinarily high speed when it collided with a median, catching fire and exploding.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, after reviewing the footage of the event, described the scene as extraordinary and described it as a “surreal scene.”
Hochul added, 'You actually had to look at it and say, 'Was this generated by A.I.?' because it was so surreal to see how high in the air this vehicle went and then the crash and explosion and the fire.'"
The driver and a passenger were killed in the incident, with one victim confirmed as a Western New York resident, officials said.
The identities of those killed in the incident have not been released. Hochul, in her Wednesday evening briefing, said that one of the deceased was a resident of Western New York.
She also stated that there was no evidence of a terrorist attack associated with the crash on the U.S. side of the bridge.
"At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist attack," Hochul said during the press conference.
Hochul further revealed that a New Yorker from the state's Western region was involved in the explosion. She noted that the individual was likely near a nearby casino before the incident, which involved the car crashing into a median at an "extraordinarily high rate of speed.”
Following the incident, the Lewiston, Peace, and Whirlpool Bridges, which connect Canada and the U.S., were reopened, excluding the Rainbow Bridge. Due to the extensive damage – the vehicle was "basically incinerated" with debris scattered across 13 to 14 booths – the Rainbow Bridge remained throughout Wednesday.
Despite some reports, Hochul clarified that the Buffalo Niagara International Airport remained operational, stating, it "never closed" and there has been no stop to service.
In response to the explosion, all border crossings between the U.S. and Canada in Western New York were initially closed. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport heightened security measures, according to its website, including additional screening and checks for cars and travelers.
Mayor Eric Adams released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, detailing the city's heightened security measures in light of the incident.
“The NYPD and our team have been closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Buffalo after an explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, and we’ve already sent NYPD officers upstate to support efforts on the ground,” Adams said. “The NYPD and our partners have already enhanced security, and the city is on heightened alert due to the upcoming holiday, so the public will see increased security at locations across New York City, including entry and egress points into and out of the city. We have also reached out to, and are in ongoing communication with, partners from across different levels of government to assist with this effort. Our number one priority is, and always will be, the safety of New Yorkers.”
As the situation developed, President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion, with the White House closely monitoring the events.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.