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NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — The FBI has ended its investigation of a fiery automobile wreck that killed two individuals at a border checkpoint in Niagara Falls after discovering no proof that it was a terror assault, easing a interval of excessive tensions as Individuals headed into the Thanksgiving vacation.
The FBI’s choice late Wednesday got here a number of hours after the automobile raced by way of an intersection, hit a median and was launched by way of the air earlier than slamming right into a line of cubicles and exploding on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. Native police at the moment are dealing with the case as a site visitors investigation.
“A search of the scene revealed no explosive supplies, and no terrorism nexus was recognized,” the FBI’s Buffalo workplace mentioned in a press release. “The matter has been turned over to the Niagara Falls Police Division as a site visitors investigation.”
A spokesman for the Metropolis of Niagara Falls mentioned the investigation has been taken over by the Niagara Falls Police Division’s Crash Administration Unit.
The 2 individuals who died had been a husband and spouse, in accordance with an individual briefed on the investigation who spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to launch details about the individuals who had been killed. The identities of these within the automobile haven’t but been launched.
The crash prompted the closure of the Rainbow Bridge and three different bridges connecting western New York and Ontario, as federal officers swarmed the realm and each U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau obtained briefings. Hours later, officers sought to calm issues on what’s one the busiest journey days of the 12 months.
“Primarily based on what we all know at this second,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned at a information convention, “there isn’t any signal of terrorist exercise on this crash.”
Hochul, a Democrat, mentioned the automobile was “mainly incinerated” with nothing left however the engine and a scattering of charred particles. Later Wednesday night time, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer mentioned investigators had discovered “no connection to any terrorist or prison group. He added that there was no proof of chemical substances or substances utilized in explosives throughout investigators’ swabbing of the scene.
The Rainbow Bridge has about 6,000 autos cross it every day, in accordance with the U.S. Federal Freeway Administration’s Nationwide Bridge Stock.
Witness Rickie Wilson, a Niagara Falls tour information, was by his parked automobile close by and rotated when he noticed one thing within the air.
“I first thought it was an airplane. It seemed like gradual movement,” he mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘My God, it’s a automobile. It’s a automobile, and it’s flying by way of the air.’”
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