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A dumpster exploded in the east end of the gay-centric neighborhood and authorities aren't sure what set it off. Mayor Bill de Blasio says it appears to be "an intentional act."
Blocks of Chelsea residents were jolted when an explosion rocked a trash bin outside a building near the corner of 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue at 8:40 p.m. Saturday.
No one was killed, but 29 people were injured, the New York Post reports. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and by Sunday morning, all of the injured had been released from hospitals, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference, according to The New York Times.
The explosion occurred on the eastern edge of Chelsea, one of Manhattan's gay neighborhoods. It went off outside a 14-story apartment building that houses blind tenants, located at 133 W. 23rd St. Two nearby buildings were evacuated, but those not injured in the building most affected initially remained on site to talk to police.
Neighbors reported shattered windows after the intensely loud explosion happened.
Police sources told the Post the explosion could have been caused by an "explosive device"; New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio later said at a press conference the explosion did appear to be "an intentional act," though hesitated to call it terrorism. The device appeared to be homemade.
At Sunday's press conference, Cuomo said it depended on how terrorism was defined. "A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism," he said, but noted there was no evidence of a connection to international terrorist groups. At the same press conference, Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill said no suspects have been identified so far. The authorities have also not determined a motive in the attack.
A "possible second device" was discovered on nearby 27th Street, between Seventh Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, according to the Times. The police bomb squad removed it and was having it examined. An explosive device was discovered earlier Saturday in New Jersey, but New York police said there was apparently no connection between that and the Chelsea incident.
Street traffic was affected in Chelsea as well as various subway lines; click here for updates on transit delays.
Explosion on 23rd St. and sixth Avenue #Explosionnyc #Chelsea
A photo posted by John Gerard Griffith Hair (@johnggriff) on
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