An explosion shook the largely deserted streets of central Nashville, in the US, early Christmas morning, shattering windows, damaging buildings and wounding three people.
uthorities said they believed the blast was intentional.
Metro Nashville police chief John Drake said police were responding to a report of shots fired when they encountered a vehicle blaring a recording that said a potential bomb was to detonate in 15 minutes.
Footage from the scene on 2nd Ave North as multiple agencies continue to work and investigate an explosion from earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/5g40RhwNNl
— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) December 25, 2020
Police evacuated nearby buildings and called in the bomb squad.
“Shortly after that, the vehicle exploded,” Mr Drake said at a midday news conference.
Surveillance video published on a Twitter account Friday that appeared to be recorded from across the street captured an audio recording that included the warning: “If you can hear this message, evacuate now.”
The blast was captured on the surveillance video seconds later.
Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said three people were taken to hospital for treatment, although none were in a critical condition.
Authorities do not know whether anyone was in the vehicle when it exploded, however.
Mr Aaron said earlier that some people were taken to the department’s central precinct for questioning but declined to give more details.
The FBI will be taking the lead in the investigation, said spokesman Joel Siskovic.
Federal investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also on the scene.
The FBI is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for investigating federal crimes, such as explosives violations and acts of terrorism.
MNPD, FBI & ATF investigating the 6:30 a.m. explosion on 2nd Ave N linked to a vehicle. This appears to have been an intentional act. Law enforcement is closing downtown streets as investigation continues. pic.twitter.com/YOfMTaKmTH
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) December 25, 2020
At noon, police dogs continued to search cars and buildings in the nearby area.
A man staying in a nearby hotel said that when he heard the blast, he knew it was not a harmless noise.
“It was a very loud explosion,” said Joseph Fafara. “We tried to rationalise it that it was an earthquake or something. But it was obvious it wasn’t an earthquake.”
Black smoke and flames were seen early Friday billowing from the area, which is packed with bars, restaurants and other retail establishments and is known as the heart of central Nashville’s tourist scene.
Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard.
Buck McCoy, who lives near the area, posted videos on Facebook that show water pouring down the ceiling of his home. Alarms can be heard in the background as well as cries of people in distress.
A fire is visible in the street outside.
Mr McCoy says he heard gunfire 15 minutes before the explosion rocked his building.
He said the windows of his home were entirely blown out. “All my windows, every single one of them got blown into the next room. If I had been standing there it would have been horrible,” he said.
“It felt like a bomb. It was that big,” he told The Associated Press.
“There were about four cars on fire. I don’t know if it was so hot they just caught on fire, and the trees were all blown apart,” he said.
PA Media