Police say the Nashville explosion was an “intentional act.”
Nashville police believe the explosion that hit downtown on Christmas morning was a deliberate act.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said the 6:30 am explosion, which shattered windows and buildings, was reportedly “a deliberate act”. Previously, authorities said they believed a vehicle was involved in the explosion.
He said three people were taken to local hospitals for treatment, although none of them were in critical condition.
Police and firefighters were on the scene, as were investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“Right now, it’s a matter of public safety to make sure everyone is in and that the fire doesn’t progress any further,” Nashville ATF spokesman Michael Knight told The Associated Press.
Black smoke and flames were spotted from the area Friday morning, which is lined with bars, restaurants and other shops and is considered the heart of the city’s tourism.
Buildings in the immediate area and beyond were startled by an explosion heard early on Christmas morning.
Nashville’s emergency department told WKRN television that a parked RV exploded, damaging several buildings.
Buck McCoy, who lives nearby, posted videos to Facebook showing water leaking from the roof of his house. Alarms and screams can be heard in the background. Outside you see a fire in the street. McCoy said the windows in his house were smashed.
‘All my windows, all of them, were smashed. If I had stood there it would have been awful, ”he said.
‘It felt like a bomb. It was so big, ”he told the Associated Press.
‘About four cars were on fire. I don’t know if it was so hot it just caught fire. And the trees were destroyed, ”he said.