A car has exploded on Rainbow Bridge in Niagra Falls today, just two days after New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a warning about increased chatter.
The massive explosion that took place at a toll checkpoint and killed two people is suspected to be the result of a terrorist attack.
CBS News reported that on Monday Hochul has already taken action to heighten security and increase staffing of the Joint Terrorism Task Force as a direct result of the escalating violence in the Middle East.
‘I am working hard at the state level with the control I have. I’ll be talking about this tomorrow, about exactly what we’re doing, and how many online threats we’ve uncovered, how many have been investigated, what the outcome is,’ said Hochul.
![A car has exploded on Rainbow Bridge in Niagra Falls today, just two days after New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a warning about increased chatter](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/22/19/78125047-12781193-image-a-1_1700681070298.jpg)
A car has exploded on Rainbow Bridge in Niagra Falls today, just two days after New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a warning about increased chatter
![The aftermath of the explosion at Rainbow Bridge border crossing at Niagara Falls on Wednesday after a suspected terror attack](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/22/19/78125837-12781193-image-a-3_1700683033551.jpg)
The aftermath of the explosion at Rainbow Bridge border crossing at Niagara Falls on Wednesday after a suspected terror attack
![New York Governonr Kathy Hochul issued a warning about increased chatter as a result of the war in the Middle East](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/22/19/78125839-12781193-image-a-2_1700683030092.jpg)
New York Governonr Kathy Hochul issued a warning about increased chatter as a result of the war in the Middle East
She went on to speak about new steps that she plans to take in order to deal with radicalization and online threats.
Just last week Hochul designated $2.5million to add more State Police investigators to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York City, Buffalo, Albany and Rochester.
Fox News has cited law enforcement sources who say that the bridge explosion was a larger attacked to kill more.
The FBI Terrorism Task Force is currently investigating, and officials have yet to determine a motive. It is also unclear if anyone else besides the two passengers in the car were injured.
The City of Niagara Falls says the explosion came from a car that was trying to enter the US from Canada. It comes just two days after an intelligence report signaled increased risk of a terror attack in New York City.
After the explosion, motorists who’d driven into America were told to leave their vehicles and walk back into Canada while the cars were checked for bombs.
Witnesses who were in the US Customs and Immigration building next to the bridge were turned away and ordered to walk back over the bridge and leave their vehicles on the US side to be checked.
![The vehicle was left in pieces after the explosion next to the toll checkpoint](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/22/19/78125833-12781193-image-a-4_1700683144421.jpg)
The vehicle was left in pieces after the explosion next to the toll checkpoint
‘There was an explosion just by the tall building you go in.
‘My own van was parked so close to the car that exploded, if you watch the video, the car was right on the left hand side,’ said one man who had just crossed over with his family.
‘When the explosion happened, we heard it like a loud boom. I heard it but I didn’t think it was something serious. Someone said “oh my god, the car exploded.” ‘
In a statement from Hochul on Tuesday she made it clear that her ‘number one priority has been and will continue to be protecting the safety of our residents.’
‘Since October 7, there has been a 400 percent increase in threats against Jews, Muslims, and Arabs. And make no mistake, we’ve not stood idly by,’ she said.