US, Canadian Cities Heighten Security After Rainbow Bridge Explosion

Security measures have increased in cities in both the United States and Canada after two people were killed in an explosion along the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday.

Authorities have shut down the bridge, which connects Ontario and New York State on either side of Niagara Falls after a vehicle exploded on the U.S. side of the crossing. Three other border crossings—the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge and the Peace Bridge—were also closed in western New York, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The FBI's field office in Buffalo said that it is investigating the explosion in coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the incident and was heading to Buffalo Wednesday afternoon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) of New York also said that its agents were on the scene of the explosion.

Other cities reacted to the incident by enacting additional safety measures, including the Niagara Regional Police Service, which said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that it had increased police presence in the area.

"This remains an active and ongoing investigation by US officials," the department added. "Please ensure you are referencing official source information rather than speculation."

Law enforcement in Toronto also announced on X that it was "increasing directed patrols of uniformed officers throughout the city."

"This is out of an abundance of caution and there are no known threats for the city of #Toronto," police said.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) in New York City released a statement on X that its department was closely monitoring the situation in Buffalo and had "already sent NYPD officers upstate to support efforts on the ground."

"The NYPD and our partners have already enhanced security and the city is on heightened alert due to the upcoming holiday, so the public will see increased security at locations across New York City, including entry and egress points into and out of the city," the statement continued.

Security measures have also been increased at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, where incoming vehicles entering the airport's premises will undergo additional security checks. The Federal Aviation Administration also announced that all incoming and outgoing international flights from Buffalo have been canceled as authorities continue to investigate the explosion at Rainbow Bridge.

"The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Airports are fully operational," read a statement from the airport shared to X. "We advise travelers to give themselves time for these extra precautions in addition to holiday travel."

Newsweek reached out to the FBI office in Buffalo, New York, for further information.