The Nashville Metro Police Department says authorities believe an explosion that shook the downtown Nashville area early on Christmas Day was a deliberate act
NASHVILLE – An explosion shook largely deserted streets in downtown Nashville in the early hours of Christmas morning, shattering windows, damaging buildings and injuring three people. Authorities said they believed the blast was intentional. The FBI is leading the investigation.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said the 6:30 a.m. blast was believed to be “an intentional act.” Police said earlier that they believed a vehicle was involved in the blast. Aaron said three people were taken to hospitals in the area for treatment, although none were in critical condition.
The FBI will take the lead in the investigation, spokesman Joel Siskovic said. Federal investigators from the Office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also at the scene. The FBI is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for investigating federal crimes, such as explosive violations and acts of terrorism. Investigators from the Office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also at the scene.
Early Friday morning saw black smoke and flames coming out of the area, full of bars, restaurants and other retail establishments, and which is known as the heart of the downtown Nashville tourist scene.
Buildings faltered in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom.
Buck McCoy, who lives near the area, posted videos on Facebook showing water spilling from the roof of his house. Alarms sound in the background and the cries of people with great anguish sound in the background. A fire is visible on the street outside. McCoy said the windows in his house were completely blown up.
“All my windows, all of them, were blown up in the next room. If I had been there, it would have been horrible, ”he said.
“It simply came to our notice then. It was so big, “he told The Associated Press.
“There were about four cars on fire. I don’t know if it was so hot that they just burned and the trees were all destroyed, ”he said.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said on Twitter that the state would provide the necessary resources “to determine what happened and who was responsible. Please join @MariaLeeTN and me in praying for the injured and we thank all our first attendees who acted so quickly this morning. “
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Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Thalia Beaty in New York collaborated.