'Number
of individuals' in custody after authorities stop 'vehicle of interest' in
Chelsea bombing, 9/19/16 FoxNews.com
NYPD gather physical evidence from Chelsea blast scene. Federal authorities conducted a traffic stop of a “vehicle of interest” in
the Chelsea bombing Sunday night in Brooklyn. A law enforcement source told Fox
News that a “number of individuals” who are possibly connected to the explosion
were taken into custody
Law enforcement officials told the Associated Press that at least 5 men
were being questioned. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were not authorized to talk about an ongoing investigation. The
FBI said in a statement that no one had been charged with any crime and the
investigation was ongoing.
New York State Sen. Marty Golden posted an Instagram photo, saying the FBI
took “several individuals” into custody on the Belt Parkway underneath the
Verrazano Bridge at around 8:40 p.m.
A government source told Fox News that investigators believe more than one
person was involved in the blast. Investigators were reviewing surveillance
footage from the scene and it does suggest more than one person was involved,
the source said.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said earlier Sunday that residents
should expect a heightened security presence as the investigation continued and
when the United National General Assembly kicks off, which draws leaders from
around the world.
"Now for all New Yorkers, a central message we want to give today is
be vigilant," de Blasio said during a news conference. "Be vigilant
at this point in time, not just because of this incident, be vigilant because
we’re going into United Nations General Assembly week."
The Democratic mayor added that those in the city will see a "a very
substantial" police presence this week which he described as "bigger
than ever."
"We would normally have an expanded presence for the United Nations
General Assembly," de Blasio said. "You will see an even stronger
presence now."
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo added that he had directed state police and
National Guard to deploy an additional 1,000 uniformed police officers out an
abundance of caution to high-profile locations across the state.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we are increasing security at
high-profile locations across the city, and all state agencies continue to
remain on alert," Cuomo said in a statement.
A spokesman for the United Nations told the Associated Press that the
organization is assessing security in the wake of the bombing as it prepares to
host world leaders arriving for the General Assembly.
U.N. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Sunday that security inside the
complex "is being assessed on a constant basis." He added that
security outside the U.N. is the responsibility of the host country. "We
receive great cooperation and appreciate the support from the federal
authorities and the NYPD throughout the year, and especially during the General
Assembly to keep staff, delegates and visitors safe," Dujarric told the
AP.
Cuomo, who toured the site of the blast, said there didn't appear to be any
link to international terrorism. He said the second device appeared
"similar in design" to the first, but did not provide details.
A law enforcement source told Fox News on Sunday that the explosive devices
found in Seaside Park, N.J. and New York City NY are believed to be from the
same person. A separate federal law enforcement official told the Associated
Press that the bomb contained residue of an explosive often used for target
practice that can be picked up in many sporting goods stores.
The discovery of Tannerite in materials recovered may be important as
authorities probe whether the blast was connected to an unexploded
pressure-cooker device found by state troopers just blocks away, as well as a
pipe bomb blast in a New Jersey shore town earlier in the day.
"We're going to be very careful and patient to get to the full truth
here," de Blasio said Sunday. "We have more work to do to be able to
say what kind of motivation was behind this. Was it a political motivation? A
personal motivation? What was it? We do not know that yet."
Cell phones were discovered at the site of both bombings, but no Tannerite
residue was identified in the New Jersey bomb remnants, in which a black powder
was detected, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition
of anonymity because the official was not authorized to comment on an ongoing
investigation.
Authorities said the Manhattan bombing and the blast 11 hours earlier at
the site of a 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors in Seaside Park, New
Jersey, didn't appear to be connected, though they weren't ruling anything out.
The New Jersey race was cancelled and no one was injured.
Officials haven't revealed any details about the makeup of the
pressure-cooker device, except to say it had wires and a cellphone attached to
it.
Tannerite, which is often used in target practice to mark a shot with a
cloud of smoke and small explosion, is legal to purchase and can be found in
many sporting goods stores. Experts said a large amount would be required to
create a blast like the one Saturday night, as well as an accelerant or other
igniter. Police and federal spokespeople wouldn't comment on the presence of
explosive material recovered at the scene.
The bomb in Manhattan appeared to have been placed near a large dumpster in
front of a building undergoing construction, another law enforcement official,
speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation, told
the AP. The second device, described by the same official as a pressure cooker
with wires and a cellphone attached to it, was removed early Sunday by a bomb
squad robot and New York City police were preparing to blow it up in a
controlled explosion later in the day, authorities said. Homemade pressure cooker bombs were used in the Boston Marathon attacks in
2013 that killed three people and injured more than 260.
Officials solicited tips from the public, telling reporters at a news
conference in the New York Police Department's headquarters that they didn't
know who set off the bomb or why.
Members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force were investigating the
blast along with New York Police Department detectives, fire marshals and other
federal investigators.
Meanwhile, a law enforcement official said federal investigators had
discounted a claim of responsibility on the social blogging service Tumblr.
Investigators looked into it and didn't consider it relevant to the case,
according to an official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to
discuss an ongoing investigation.
Fox News' Matt Dean and Rick Leventhal and the
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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