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.
The FBI was also at an Elizabeth, N.J. train station
after a suspicious package was found.
The source told Fox News that it was unclear what type of device was
found or if there were any connections to the Chelsea bombing or the
explosion in Seaside Park, N.J.
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.
