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Downtown Nashville devastated after mysterious explosion
© APA / Nashville Fire Department
Downtown Nashville in the US state of Tennessee was hit by a loud explosion on Friday. Police assume a planned act after a loudspeaker warned of a bomb explosion from a mobile home. At least three people were hospitalized with minor injuries. Authorities also investigated possible human remains from the site. Initially, the background to the explosion was unclear.
The explosion shattered window panes and shattered water pipes, and up to 20 house facades were severely damaged. The street was littered with branches and broken glass and blackened with soot. The explosion occurred at 6:30 a.m. local time (1:30 p.m. CET) and could be felt several blocks away. Due to the early hour of the day and the Christmas holidays, few people were on the streets.
The police had been informed that shots had been fired in the street that morning and followed the call. He noticed the vehicle in which a recorded message warned of a bomb explosion in 15 minutes. Police Chief John Drake and police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters that the police immediately alerted explosives experts and brought residents to safety.
The Tennessee newspaper cited witnesses who said a woman’s voice counted backwards. “Clean it up now. There is a bomb. There is a bomb in this vehicle and it will explode,” a witness responded to the disturbing warning.
Images shared on online networks and taken immediately after the blast showed thick clouds of black smoke over the burning motorhome and destroyed storefronts.
The authorities did not initially provide information on a possible motive or indications of possible internal terrorism. It was not clear at first if anyone was in the mobile home at the time of the explosion. According to Police Chief Drake, remains were found at the scene that could be human remains.
The explosion occurred near a building owned by the telecommunications company AT&T. The company said supplies to some customers in and around Nashville could be affected by the blast.
According to the Tennessean, police officers went door-to-door in the area. The sniffer dogs searched the area for possible additional explosive devices, but found nothing.
The police closed the streets of the city center. The FBI of the United States Federal Police and the federal agency responsible for weapons and explosives participated in the investigation.
US President Donald Trump has been briefed, the White House said. Trump spokesman Judd Deere said on Twitter that the president thanked the first responders. Future President Joe Biden also thanked the first responders.
“We are very lucky,” said Nashville Mayor John Cooper, given the low number of injuries. Property damage is “limited, but dramatic.”
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