Developing …
Latest WTF RT @WGRZ: Police: 2 Russian nationals pulled over in Niagara Falls; 4 suspicious backpacks in car, robot & bomb techs on scene.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) April 19, 2013
FBI is aware of the situation in Niagara Falls, they joint terrorism task force is working with NYSP.
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
No word on whether this is related to the manhunt for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who is reportedly from a Russian region near Chechnya. The manhunt continues.
More:
From @wgrz: A police source tells 2 On Your Side that New York State Police have pulled over a vehicle in Niagara… http://t.co/qkVhnC3B4j
— Al Roker (@alroker) April 19, 2013
Via Al Roker’s Facebook:
From @wgrz: A police source tells 2 On Your Side that New York State Police have pulled over a vehicle in Niagara Falls allegedly with two Russian nationals in the vehicle.
The car was pulled over at 19th and Elmwood in the Falls.
Bomb techs and a robot are being used to investigate four suspicious backpacks in the vehicle.
Another source tells us the vehicle has Massachusetts license plates
WGRZ continues to report:
FBI joint terrorism task force working with NYSP in the Falls @WGRZ go to http://t.co/KMKGRF4bbh for latest
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
UPDATE: Large police presence around vehicle on Elmwood & 19th in #NiagaraFalls. Car has Mass. plates. Unsure if connected to #Boston.
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Source says activity in #NiagaraFalls is routine traffic stop. vehicle has Mass. plates. Extensive search out of caution. Nothing found yet
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Residents near Elmwood & 19th Ave. in #NiagaraFalls asked to stay inside as police search vehicle with Mass. plates.
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
State Police has bomb detection unit at 19th & Elmwood in #NiagaraFalls. Nothing found yet. Scene remains calm.
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Police have searched vehicle with Mass. plates in #NiagaraFalls. Mayor Dyster says people inside vehicle are U.S. citizens
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Scene from 19th and Elmwood in the falls @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/J2aCAt1l1D
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
NYSP tell me occupants of vehicle are being interviewed right now, vehicle has not been searched just yet @WGRZ
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Troopers say two people in vehicle were NOT armed, are cooperating, pulled over by NFPD acting on tip from resident @WGRZ
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Police in #NiagaraFalls telling residents to move 100 feet back from vehicle with Mass. plates. Scene remains calm
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Media and spectators @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/lCpOJkIxQw
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Reporters in #NiagaraFalls are now being asked to move a block away from 19th & Elmwood.
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Police say they are taking "positive action" soon, moving EVERYONE back
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
tow truck pulled up to car in Niagara falls, command unit now blocking view. ATF NYSP NFPD all here. Public moved back a block .@wgrz
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) April 19, 2013
Police said there are "things in vehicle they want to look at" ; flat bed tow on scene @WGRZ
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Mobile command center moved to block our view @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/Wyuaq6dQDz
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
@syhum @wgrz unknown right now; police moved us back, said hope to update soon
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Stores in plaza ordered evacuated by police near suspicious vehicle w/mass plates in #niagarafalls .@wgrz pic.twitter.com/BCO7XUPiwr
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) April 19, 2013
610 CKTB News is reporting this was a “false alarm,” but according to other media reports, authorities are still on the scene.
Robot now being used to approach suspicious car w/ Mass plates in #NiagaraFalls..@wgrz
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) April 19, 2013
.@wgrz robot has removed a backpack,pillow, & a clear plastic bag of objects from suspicious car in NiagaraFalls. Now opening passenger door
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) April 19, 2013
#NiagaraFalls update: Robot removed 2nd backpack from vehicle w/Mass plates. Also took out a pillow & plastic bag of objects.
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Yikes:
.@wgrz robot drops 2nd backpack removed from car w/Mass plates in NF. Papers blowing all over. Earlier, robot ran over 1st backpack. Whoops
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) April 19, 2013
.@wgrz removed from stopped carw/Mass plates in #NiagaraFalls by police robot so far: 2 backpacks, 2 sleeping bags, 1 satchel, 1 plastic bag
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) April 19, 2013
#NiagaraFalls police say they have NOT found anything suspicious in the packages removed from car with Mass. plates. Still searching trunk.
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
.@wgrz fully donned bomb squad member now inspecting items removed from vehicle w/Mass plates in #NiagaraFalls. Put a device over one item
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) April 19, 2013
Update:
Niagara Falls police say they erred on the side of caution, but found nothing of concern.
Police officials say nothing found in Mass. Car in Niagara Falls but paper and clothing
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
Niagara Falls Police: 'We erred on the side of caution"
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
NYSP: Multiple agencies called in because they have multiple resources that local PD's don't have, including FBI
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
NFPD: We handled it the appropriately and professionally
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
NFPD: Member of National Guard in uniform called 911; felt they were trying to "evade him from their identity".
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) April 19, 2013
2 occupants were cooperative and consented to search, as did their father who owns car; nothing hazardous found after robot search @WGRZ
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Police only saying two men are in 20s, traveling to visit WNY, cited with failure to stop at stop sign, use turn signal @WGRZ
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Police: 2 men were questioned while vehicle was searched, personal belongings inside but nothing suspicious @WGRZ 2 citations and let go
— Heather Ly (@HeatherLyWGRZ) April 19, 2013
Twitchy will monitor this situation and update as new details emerge.
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