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ANKARA: Three people were injured and hospitalized early Friday Christmas morning in a massive explosion in downtown Nashville, in the southern state of Tennessee, in what is believed to be an intentional act, according to authorities.
Police officers were responding to reports of shooting near 2nd Ave and Commerce Street before 6 a.m. (1230 GMT) local time when they spotted a suspicious vehicle outside a nearby building, Anadolu Agency reported.
When officers alerted the bomb squad, a significant explosion occurred about 30 minutes later, said Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) spokesman Don Aaron.
Police previously told local media that a parked recreational vehicle (RV) had exploded and caused damage to several buildings.
Before the explosion, the parked RV played a recorded message, “If you can hear this message, evacuate now,” which said a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes, according to police.
“The officers, upon hearing that, decided to evacuate the nearby buildings. Then they started knocking on doors, making announcements, having emergency communications with everyone so that people were safe, “Nashville Police Chief John Drake told reporters.
“Shortly after that, the RV exploded. We had an officer fall to the ground. Another officer is fine, ”Drake added.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said on Twitter that the MNPD confirmed the source of the blast came from a vehicle, adding that the force of the blast knocked an officer to the ground, damaging at least 20 buildings.
“The MNPD, FBI and ATF are investigating the 6:30 am explosion on 2nd Ave N linked to a vehicle. This appears to have been an intentional act. Police are closing downtown streets while the investigation continues, ”MNPD said on Twitter.
He added that canine teams are conducting protection sweeps in the city center where traffic is restricted.
The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and will work closely with state and local authorities, said its spokesman Joel Siskovic. – Called
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