Police say the blast in Nashville was an “intentional act.”
Nashville police think the blast that shook downtown on Christmas morning was a deliberate act.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said the 6:30 a.m. blast, which shattered windows and damaged buildings, was thought to be “an intentional act.” Earlier, authorities said they thought a vehicle was involved in the blast.
He said three people were taken to area hospitals for treatment, although none were in critical condition.
Police and firefighters were at the scene, as well as FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigators.
“Right now, it’s a matter of public safety to make sure everyone is located and that the fire is not moving forward,” Michael Knight, a spokesman for the ATF in Nashville, told The Associated Press.
Black smoke and flames were seen on Friday morning rising from the area, which is full of bars, restaurants and other retail establishments and is considered the heart of tourism in the city.
Buildings in the immediate area and beyond were shaken by an explosion heard early on Christmas morning.
The Nashville emergency office told WKRN television that a parked recreational vehicle exploded and damaged several buildings.
Buck McCoy, who lives in the area, posted videos on Facebook showing water coming out of the roof of his house. Alarms and screams are heard in the background. A fire can be seen on the street outside. McCoy said the windows in his home were smashed.
“All my windows, each of them, were shattered. If I had been stopped there it would have been horrible,” he said.
“It felt like a bomb. 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 caught fire. And the trees were shattered,” he said.