New York Gov. Says Chelsea Blast Shows No Links To International Terrorism

By Merrit Kennedy
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (R) visits the scene of an explosion on West 23rd Street Sept. 18, 2016 in New York. An explosion rocked one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of New York, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America’s financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (R) visits the scene of an explosion on West 23rd Street Sept. 18, 2016 in New York. An explosion rocked one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of New York, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America's financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (R) visits the scene of an explosion on West 23rd Street Sept. 18, 2016 in New York. An explosion rocked one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of New York, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America’s financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (R) visits the scene of an explosion on West 23rd Street Sept. 18, 2016 in New York. An explosion rocked one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of New York, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America's financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

New York Gov. Says Chelsea Blast Shows No Links To International Terrorism

By Merrit Kennedy
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said all 29 of those injured in an explosion Friday night in Manhattan have been released from the hospital and that there is currently “no evidence” of links to international terrorism.

The damage to the site at West 23rd St. in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood is extensive, Cuomo told reporters on Saturday morning. “The force of the explosion, you can see it down the block, across the street. There’s glass everywhere. Shrapnel everywhere.” He added: “When you see the damage, I think we were fortunate that there were no fatalities.” The explosion happened at around 8:30 pm Eastern time, as we reported.

Cuomo added that there is “no reason to believe at this time that there is any further, immediate threat.” But at the same time, nearly 1,000 New York State police and members of the National Guard will be deployed to bus terminals, airports and subway stations.

At this preliminary stage, Cuomo said, there are no clear links to international terrorist groups but they plan to eventually prosecute this as a terror crime:

“No one has taken credit, there have been no international groups that have put out any statements connecting them with this action. Now it depends on your definition of terrorism. But a bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism, but it’s not linked to international terrorism – in other words we find no ISIS connection, etc.”

He added that a second device, found nearby on West 27th St. and cleared by authorities, was “similar in design” to the first. Authorities are still working to determine whether the two devices are linked.

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