A surveillance video from the explosion site in Nashville reveals that someone was warning local residents of the blast right before it happened.
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Emergency personnel work near the scene of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard early Christmas morning.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Residents in Nashville are left shaken after a large explosion damaged buildings and left a handful of injuries in the city’s downtown area.
Police officers were called to the area at around 5:30 a.m. due to reports of shots being fired.
On arrival, they discovered a recreational vehicle blaring a message that warned people to evacuate the area so they began to evacuate nearby buildings.
This led authorities to believe it was an intentional act.
“So they began knocking on doors, making announcements, communicating with everyone to get people safe,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Deputy Chief John Drake stated. “Shortly after that, the RV exploded.”
Several people were reportedly injured in the blast. They were taken to local hospitals with non-critical injuries.
The damage to the surrounding buildings, however, appeared significant.
According to reports, the area is considered the heart of Nashville’s tourist area, which is filled with bars, restaurants and shops.
Authorities said structural engineers, search and rescue as well as hazmat crews checked the buildings to make sure they were structurally sound and to ensure there were no other victims.
At the time, it appeared there were no fatalities in the blast. However, police could not confirm the RV was empty when it exploded.
According to recent reports, there may be possible human remains at the explosion site.
A surveillance video from the explosion site reveals that someone was warning local residents of the blast right before it happened.
The warning stated, “If you can hear this message – evacuate now.” According to reports, the warning broadcast went on for 30 minutes before the explosion occurred, which suggests it may have been staged for unclear purposes.
BREAKING: Audio warning was being broadcast before explosion rocked downtown Nashville. Video shows moment of blast. pic.twitter.com/3IvciFH6BV
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 25, 2020
Authorities in Nashville activated the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate a response to Friday morning’s explosion.
According to the White House, President Trump has been briefed and is actively monitoring the situation. He also thanked the first responders for their heroic efforts.
Windows are blown out in a building near the scene of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard early Christmas morning.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
During a press conference, MNPD Spokesperson Don Aaron said investigators believed the incident was intentional and that bomb-detection dogs and equipment were on scene.
Aaron also said officers were called to the scene before the explosion occurred after unconfirmed reports of nearby gunfire. The RV was also reported as suspicious.
BREAKING: This is the RV that exploded on 2nd Ave N this morning. It arrived on 2nd Ave at 1:22 a.m. Have you seen this vehicle in our area or do you have information about it? Please contact us via Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 or online via https://t.co/dVGS7o0m4v. @ATFHQ pic.twitter.com/JNx9sDinAH
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) December 25, 2020
“I will say that central precinct officers conducted a door to door, apartment to apartment…check of units on Second Avenue this morning, just before the explosion occurred,” Aaron stated.
The bomb squad had just arrived when the vehicle exploded, which injured one officer and three civilians. The FBI has since taken over control of the investigation.
The post Nashville PD: Vehicle exploded after officers were on scene first appeared on One America News Network.
