Chelsea Explosion Latest: 29 Injured in New York City Blast

NEW YORK, NY — A street-corner explosion that law enforcement sources said was caused by an intentionally detonated improvised device in the busy Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan sent shrapnel flying into pedestrians Saturday night, injuring at least 29 people, including one person believed to be in serious condition. The blast shattered windows, shook buildings, closed subways and blocked buses from their routes.

Police and other emergency workers responded to the scene at 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. Dozens of police officers, firefighters and medical technicians quickly carted the wounded into ambulances and ferried them to nearby hospitals. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday morning that all 29 injured had been released from the hospital.

The explosion happened on the street outside of 131 W. 23rd St., a hotel, The Townhouse Inn of Chelsea, and residential assisted living center for the blind, Visions at Selis Manor, police said.

"Early indications are this was an intentional act," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference late Saturday at 23rd Street near Fifth Avenue — about two blocks from the explosion. At the same time, he added, "there is no evidence of a terror connection, there have been no credible threats against New York City from terrorist organizations."

De Blasio and Commissioner James O'Neill had very few new details on Sunday, confirming it was an intentional act and promising the person, or persons, responsible for the attack would be brought to justice. The mayor said the city would be "very careful to get the full truth, the full facts, here."

"There was a bomb, this was a very serious incident," de Blasio said at a Sunday midday press conference. "Was it political motivation? Was it personal motivation? ... That work must go on."

Officials said the city will have its strongest police presence ever this week. De Blasio also encouraged New Yorkers to "be vigilant."

"A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism, but it’s not connected to international terrorism," Cuomo said Sunday morning. "But there is no link, at this time, at this preliminary stage, to international terrorism."

Chief Harry Wedin, head of the New York Police Department's Special Operations Division, said investigators found a second device on 27th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues. That device was safely removed by police at about 2:30 a.m. The device was taken to the NYPD facility on Rodman's Neck in the Bronx, officials said. The device has been rendered safe and will be sent to the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia for a forensic examination.

Sources said the device on 27th Street was found in a vehicle and it appeared to be a pressure cooker rigged to explode similarly to the devices used in the Boston Marathon bombings. The device had wires protruding and what appeared to to be a cell phone taped to it.

Sources said a man was stopped about seven blocks away and is being questioned in connection with the incident, though they stressed it would be premature to call the person a suspect or person of interest.

O'Neill said that at least one of the surveillance cameras in the area caught the explosion on video. Law enforcement officials are still checking other cameras. Sources said that the video shows — before the explosion — a man walking toward where the explosion happened and placing an object in the garbage bin. The explosion happened soon after.

A different video emerged on Instagram, showing the explosion from a security camera across the street from the blast.

"When you see the amount of damage, we were really lucky there were no fatalities at the time," Cuomo said Sunday.

The Chelsea neighborhood has long been one of New York's trendier nightspots with its mix of restaurants, clubs and expensive apartments. It has been the home to musicians, artists, designers and poets.

O'Neill — on his first full day on the job — said that officers from the 10th Precinct witnessed the explosion and called for backup.

Cuomo said while there are no specific threats, 1,000 State Police and National Guardsmen have been deployed to transportation hubs in the state.

Officials say a gas explosion was quickly ruled out. In addition to patrol officers, the New York Fire Department, and other first responders, as well as detectives from the police department's counter-terrorism unit and FBI agents and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, are on scene.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms also has agents from its arson and explosive task force on scene, officials say. Law enforcement agencies are also sending agents and detectives to sensitive locations across the city as a precaution.

"All hands are on deck," de Blasio said.

Law enforcement officials are on alert with the United Nations General Assembly convening Monday. Another pipe bomb explosion occurred earlier Saturday in New Jersey. NYPD officials said they don't believe the two are connected.

The White House said that President Barack Obama has been briefed on the developing situation.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and urge New Yorkers to, as always, remain calm and vigilant," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "Those traveling in or through the area should be advised of closed sidewalks and roadway, and check MTA.info for subway and bus service alerts. As a reminder, the PATH station at 23rd Street is closed for previously-announced weekend closures."

Detectives are scouring the area for clues, looking for any surveillance camera that might have caught the explosion or what led up to it, officials said. The street is filled with stores and restaurants as well as residential buildings. Explosives experts are also examining the scene for clues.

Detectives are looking into whether the blast came from a device placed in a garbage bin, according to officials. The NYPD tweeted a photo of what is believed to be a damaged dumpster (see above). They are also investigating reports of a tool box that was seen near the dumpster.

"Everybody started running," one person tweeted.

The MTA reported extensive disruptions to the 1, 2, E and F subway lines. All four lines are skipping 23rd Street in both directions. The MTA also reported several bus lines — the M5, M7 and M23 — are being rerouted. Sixth Avenue is closed from 14th Street to 34th Street. Also, 23rd Street is closed between Fifth and Eighth avenues. Cuomo toured the station stops on 23rd Street on Sunday and said there was no structural damage to any of them. He said he expects them to be open for the Monday morning commute.

An explosive device was detonated in a trash can at a race in Seaside, New Jersey, earlier Saturday morning. No one was injured in that blast, and no one was arrested. If it turns out to have been an explosive device that caused the blast, officials say, they will examine it for similarities to the devices that were recovered in New Jersey. Cuomo again reiterated on Sunday there doesn't appear to be a connection between the two, but he had been in contact with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the two states were coordinating their investigations.

"Whatever the cause, whatever the intentions here, New Yorkers will not be intimidated," de Blasio said.

The New York Police Department asks that anyone with information call 800-577-TIPS.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as information becomes available.

Photos of evidence recovery courtesy of Gov. Cuomo

Photo of the scene by Feroze Dhanoa/Patch; Photo of the dumpster courtesy NYPD