Investigation Continues at Scene of Chelsea Explosion

Police and members of the FBI were examining the scene of an explosion on West 23rd Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City on September 18. The rose window of the St Vincent de Paul Church is seen shattered, boarding along a sidewalk has been blasted away, and debris is seen on the street.The blast occurred at around 8:30pm the evening before, according to police. The blast went off outside 131 West 23rd Street, injuring 29 people, according to information provided by Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner James O’Neal in a press conference. One person had a serious puncture wound, according to O’Neal. All 29 were released from hospital on September 18, according to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
De Blasio and O’Neal said the cause of the blast was unknown, but that, based on preliminary information, they had ruled out terrorism and natural gas, and the incident was not connected to a blast in New Jersey earlier that day. Mayor Bill de Blasio did say “we believe this was an intentional act.” Cuomo on September 18 said that “a bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism,” but said there was no evidence of a link to international terrorism.
A second device was located on 27th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenue. Reports said the device was a pressure cooker attached to a phone with wires attached. Credit: Anonymous