Emergency crews are on the scene of a possible building explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan which was reported shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday.
https://twitter.com/MrBenMalloy/status/777305793595076609
Was just walking w friend on 22nd and 6th and felt/heard massive explosion. Ground shook.
— Michelle Profis (@michpro) September 18, 2016
Huge explosion in Chelsea blew this dumpster … pic.twitter.com/1lSIGjRyC8
— Chris Duffy (@voicehalf) September 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/elisabetherapy/status/777308684858843136
https://twitter.com/elisabetherapy/status/777309482804183040
Our whole high rise building shook.23rd St & 6th Ave. More response vehicles arriving: pic.twitter.com/IgbjXgy9JD
— Alexandra Sowa, M.D. (@AlexandraSowaMD) September 18, 2016
Major explosion right around the corner from my apartment in #NYC just happened.#safe #chelsea #explosion #rightnow pic.twitter.com/yr2Tfnqp4U
— Aiden Leslie (@aidenleslie) September 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/elisabetherapy/status/777315644941463552
Explosion took place in front of Selis Manor at 135 W 23 which provides housing & services to the blind
— Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) September 18, 2016
FBI on scene #manhattan #explosion #chelsea pic.twitter.com/jndHkXOBpB
— Jon Avidor (@JonAvidor) September 18, 2016
There are no reports of fatalities, although a few outlets are reporting more than 20 hurt in the blast, most with minor injuries.
There are now reports of 23 patients with minor injuries, and one patient with moderate injuries. No fatalities reported at this time.
— Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) September 18, 2016
26 injuries now reported
— Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) September 18, 2016
25 injuries to civilians confirmed at 133 W 23 St #Chelsea. None appear to be life-threatening at this time
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 18, 2016
Though there’s chatter of an IED exploding in a trash bin, nothing has been confirmed by officials at this hour.
#breaking Nypd: responding to a report of an explosion at 23rd St. and 6t Avenue in Manhattan. Sources: IED in dumpster went off. @PIX11News
— Anthony DiLorenzo (@ADiLorenzoTV) September 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/777311370668707840
Trump started CO rally saying a "bomb went off in NY & nobody knows exactly what's going on…We’ll see what it is." Reports still unclear.
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) September 18, 2016
Chelsea resident here: no confirmation of IED, still may have been gas explosion. Do not believe all information until confirmed.
— Jenny Jaffe (@jennyjaffe) September 18, 2016
Mayor @BilldeBlasio headed to scene of explosion on 23rd and 6th. More info to come.
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) September 18, 2016
BREAKING: ATF NY arson & explosives task force responding to explosion in Manhattan
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) September 18, 2016
The mayor is on his way to the scene, but in the meantime, New Yorkers continue to be New Yorkers.
People calling into NY1 who were on the block when the explosion happened? Full NYC calm. "I heard the explosion, then went to the deli."
— Jim McCarthy (@JimMcCarthy528) September 18, 2016
Yeah, peeps. I'm in Chelsea. I just walked to the area. We are chill. Many are eating gelato. Having a glass of wine. It's not total chaos.
— Dr. Nancy Hightower (@NancyHightower) September 18, 2016
CNN is reporting that a gas explosion has been ruled out.
Gas has been ruled out as the cause of the New York explosion. https://t.co/LNAJBK7PjT pic.twitter.com/5TJkyBf6XM
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 18, 2016
And Mayor de Blasio has arrived for a briefing from the police.
.@NYPDONeill and Chief Waters briefing @BilldeBlasio on site. pic.twitter.com/A8AO7esQcH
— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) September 18, 2016
President Obama had been at a Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner with Hillary Clinton at the time of the blast.
* * *
Update:
Mayor de Blasio said at a press conference around 11:20 p.m. that all signs pointed to an intentional attack.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio: "We believe at this point in time, this was an intentional act"
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) September 18, 2016
"Early indication is this was an intentional act" @NYCMayorsOffice "our anti terror capacity is at full alert"
— Jenna Lee (@JennaLeeUSA) September 18, 2016
#BREAKING NYC Mayor De Blasio says no credible threat against NYC. Says explosion not terrorism. But says "this was an intentional act"
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 18, 2016
Intentional act – but not a terrorist act – says New York mayor on explosion in Chelsea.
— deborah amos (@deborahamos) September 18, 2016
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio: There is no evidence of a "terror connection" to NYC blast https://t.co/bGhuXeGo7i https://t.co/KtBnKfDriu
— CNN (@CNN) September 18, 2016
This is premature. Mayor said: a) evidence is it's an "intentional act" but b) no evidence of "terror connection"… https://t.co/LL2Q0ihOv9
— Thomas Joscelyn (@thomasjoscelyn) September 18, 2016
29 injuries; one of them "may be serious," says NYPD commissioner O'Neill.
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) September 18, 2016
29 injuries, 1 considered serious, 24 people transported to area hospitals –#FDNY Commissioner Nigro. Watch LIVE https://t.co/ZRjbzKfoKm
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 18, 2016
Police are actively investigating a possible secondary device four blocks away.
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
Police have said all they’re going to say for now, but sources are saying there is a second device, which is believed to be a pressure cooker, reminiscent of the Boston Marathon bombing.
Sources: Authorities believe they may have found a pressure cooker device with wires and timer on 27th St in NYC. W/ @AaronKatersky
— Mike Levine (@MLevineReports) September 18, 2016
Twitchy will continue to update this post as details become available.
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