Explosion rocks New York City Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, reports up to 25 injured

Authorities in New York said that dozens of people were injured in an explosion Saturday night in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
There were 25 people who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials with the New York Fire Department.
Police officers, firefighters and other first responders flooded to the scene, which brought onlookers and closed down a major roadway. The New York Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau also said it was responding to the explosion, which came hours after a pipe bomb exploded in a Jersey Shore garbage can shortly before a scheduled charity race there benefiting Marines and Navy sailors.
In addition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said its arson and explosives task force was being dispatched to the explosion scene.
The explosion in Chelsea did not stem from gas or a gas leak, according to a law enforcement official who asked not to be identified discussing the investigation.
While authorities did not immediately confirm the nature of the explosion, the New York Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau posted a photo online of what appeared to be a dumpster or garbage container mangled by a blast:

.@NYPDnews & EMS on scene of apparent explosion on 23rd & 6th. Monitoring closely. Will provide updates w/ confirmed information.

The explosion in the area of 23rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues happened at about 8:30 p.m. police said. “Several” of those injured were brought to area hospitals, J. Peter Donald, a police spokesman, posted on Twitter.
Photos and accounts posted on social media showed large crowds — as well as a large law enforcement presence — in the area near where the explosion occurred.
“Everybody started running and screaming,” Ryan McMillen, a history professor at Mercy College, told the New York Daily News.




Our whole high rise building shook.23rd St & 6th Ave. More response vehicles arriving:

President Obama was briefed on the situation in New York and will be updated as more information becomes available, a White House official said late Saturday.
Speaking in Colorado not long after the explosion, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump quickly commented on the situation before much information was known.
“I must tell you that just before I got off the plane, a bomb went off in New York and nobody knows exactly what’s going on,” said Trump shortly after getting off of his plane. His comments were made before authorities confirmed the nature of the explosion.
The explosion in New York comes as foreign leaders, including many heads of state, are heading to Manhattan for the United Nations General Assembly. Secretary of State John F. Kerry arrived Saturday, while President Obama is scheduled to head to the city on Monday.
This annual meeting — held more than two miles from the site of the explosion in Chelsea — is traditionally a tricky time for New York, as many roads are shut down and the heavy security leads to increased traffic.

The explosion happened at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue on 23rd Street, the fire department tweeted.
"None appear to be life-threatening at this time," the department added.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident was “an intentional act."
But he said there was no evidence of a "credible and specific threat" to the city. "We do not see a link to terrorism."
"It is too early to determine what the incident was caused by. We believe it was intentional. A full investigation is under way," he added.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a press conference on West 23rd Street on September 17, 2016, in New York. (AFP photo)
Meanwhile, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said, "Full state resources have been made available for this investigation. We are closely monitoring the situation and urge New Yorkers to, as always, remain calm and vigilant."
The explosion is believed to have come from a dumpster in an area teeming with restaurants, bars and pedestrians.
The blast in Chelsea is thought to have come from a dumpster (pictured) and could have come from an explosive device. (Social media photo)
Police said they found a secondary device, apparently a pressure cooker, at West 27th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenue.
There was also duct tape, a note or some sort of paper with writing attached, as well as cords that came out of the pressure cooker.
The White House said in an announcement that President Barack Obama was briefed on the explosion.
"The president has been apprised of the explosion in New York City, the cause of which remains under investigation. The president will be updated as additional information becomes available," the White House said.
A police officer is seen at West 23rd and 8th Avenue, two blocks west of the explosion. (Reuters photo)
"It was really loud, it hurt my eardrums. My 10-year-old boy was sat in the back seat of the car, and the explosion blew the back window out," said Tsi Tsi Mallett, who heard the explosion while driving her car nearby.
Neha Jain, another person, who lives in the neighborhood, said, "Pictures on my wall fell, the window curtain came flying as if there was a big gush of wind. Then we could smell smoke. Went downstairs to see what happened and firemen immediately told us to go back."
The incident came a few hours after another explosion happened Saturday morning in a New Jersey beach town, which left nobody injured.
An explosion went off in a garbage can Saturday morning in a New Jersey beach town. (Social media photo)
The officials said the explosion, which went off in a garbage can, likely was timed to disrupt a Marine Corps charity run.
Police found three pipe-bomb-type devices wired together near the boardwalk in Seaside Park.
Only one of the devices, which were rudimentary with some type of timer, detonated, two federal law enforcement officers said.
The New York mayor said there is no immediate indication that the blast is related to the one in Manhattan.
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said the Nassau County Police Department is on heightened alert following the two explosions.
"Although there is no known imminent threats to Nassau County, police are monitoring these attacks along with federal, state and local authorities," a statement from Nassau County officials read. "Nassau County Police are intensifying patrols in all areas of mass transit, critical infrastructure, and will increase patrols at significant public events."
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