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The FBI and ATF are leading the investigation into the explosion, which police say appears to be a “deliberate act.” Three people have been sent to hospital with minor injuries.
The explosion in Nashville took place at 6:30 a.m. Friday morning on 2nd Avenue downtown. According to local newspaper The Tennessean, he was observed from several kilometers away.
According to the Washington Post, which quotes a police spokesman, police were called to the scene at 6 a.m. local time, after being notified of an exchange of gunfire.
When they arrived at the scene, they did not see any immediate signs that shots had been fired. However, they saw a suspicious motorhome parked nearby and called the bomb squad for help.
Police stated at a news conference Friday night that the motorhome was playing an audio recording saying a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes. Evacuation began, before the trailer exploded half an hour after the police arrived on the scene.
They do not believe that there is a greater danger of explosions, but searches continue in the area, which is blocked from the public. Police still don’t know if someone was in the car when it exploded.
The FBI and crime prevention agency ATF are leading the investigation into the incident.
Three people were sent to hospital in connection with the incident, but without serious injuries, according to News Channel 5. The explosion caused significant material damage to nearby buildings.
Among other things, the facilities of the Internet provider AT&T were affected, so its services are down throughout the city. It is currently unknown if the building was a target of the blast.
Several users on Twitter have posted photos of the incident where open flames, thick smoke and damage to nearby buildings can be seen:
“Covered in flames”
“There were trees everywhere and glass everywhere,” witness Buck McCoy told CNN.
The blast allegedly took place right outside his home in downtown Nashville, and he posted a video on his Facebook page showing some of the injuries after the incident.
In addition, he tells the news channel that he saw several cars that were “engulfed in flames.” McCoy is said to have not observed any injuries after the incident, but noted that several of the people in the area were in shock.
The fire brigade is said to have asked nearby people to move at least two blocks away from the scene due to concerns that there could be more explosions, according to News Channel 5.
THREE WOUNDS: Three people were taken to the hospital without serious injuries after the explosion. Photo: ANDREW NELLES / TENNESSEAN.COM / X02835
