29 injured in an explosion in New York. Another bomb went off in New Jersey. A man also stabbed passers-by in Minnesota.
An explosion of “intentional” origin in a bustling New York neighborhood left 29 people injured on Saturday. The authorities stressed that they had no proof that it was a terrorist act at this stage. Another explosion also took place in neighboring New Jersey. Separately, a man wearing a vigilante uniform and armed with a knife stabbed eight people on Saturday in a shopping mall in Minnesota, in the northern United States, before being shot dead by a police officer, authorities report.
Knife attack in Minnesota
This man was making “references to Allah”. “We have confirmation that he asked at least one person if they were Muslim before attacking him”St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson said, saying he couldn’t say at this point “whether or not it is a terrorist attack”.
The assailant was only known to the police for minor traffic violations. The police chief said the attack did not appear to be related to any other event.
The New York explosion, intentional.
According to statements by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Chelsea explosion is unrelated to an act of international terrorism.
In New York, the explosion sounded around 8:30 p.m. local (00:30 GMT), on 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, in the Chelsea district, at a time when its many bars and restaurants are very busy. Many residents of the Chelsea district, quoted by local TVs, testified to having heard a very violent explosion and to have been shocked.
Broken glass was visible outside some doors and storefronts, many of which closed very quickly. The windows of cars parked nearby were blown, AFP said.
President Barack Obama was regularly briefed on developments, according to the White House.
Another explosion in New Jersey
“There is no evidence at this stage of a terrorist link for this incident”, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press briefing at the scene.
New York Police Chief James O’Neill, however, stressed that the information remained “preliminary” and that the FBI’s anti-terrorist unit was mobilized.
The investigation could still reveal other ramifications: the police mentioned “a second explosive device possible” found not far from the explosion, on 27th Street, without giving details, stressing that the investigation was continuing.
The American media have mentioned the presence of a pressure cooker, but the information has not been officially confirmed.
Earlier Saturday, a homemade bomb placed in a trash can in Seaside Park in neighboring New Jersey exploded without causing injury near the course of a run organized by the US Marines.
The machine was programmed to explode when hundreds of runners in this 5-kilometer race had to pass near the trash. But the start of the event having been delayed, the explosion did not cause any injuries, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the local prosecutor.
The two incidents aroused fears of attacks, while the memory of September 11, 2001 remains deeply rooted in the memory of New Yorkers.
Attack alerts are frequent and vigilance has been stepped up with the wave of Islamist attacks recorded in Europe.
No one injured is in danger of death, a spokesperson for the local hospital said.
The reactions in the middle of the campaign for the American presidential election
If a terrorist link were established, the incident could weigh on the presidential campaign on November 8, which pits Democrat and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton against the Republican candidate Donald Trump.
The latter did not hesitate, from Colorado Springs, to declare that “a bomb exploded in New York “. “We’re going to have to be tough, friends, very, very tough”, he added.
“I think it is always wiser to wait until you have the information before drawing conclusions”, replied Hillary Clinton, who presents herself as an experienced and wise candidate facing an unpredictable competitor.
“There is no particular terrorist threat at this stage against New York City”, however assured Bill de Blasio. He nevertheless claimed that initial information indicated that the explosion was indeed the result of a “intentional act”, without giving any further explanation.
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