Emergency crews responded to an explosion early Friday in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, where officials said it was linked to a car, and the Associated Press quoted police spokesman Don Aaron as saying later that investigators believed it was “an intentional act.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Derry said Trump has been briefed and will continue to receive regular updates, and said President Trump is grateful to first responders and is praying for the injured.
Police said in a tweet on Twitter that the explosion was under investigation by the Nashville Metro Police Department and federal partners, and Aaron said that three people had been taken to area hospitals for treatment, but none of them was in critical condition, according to the Associated Press. He also said that some people were taken to the ministry’s central district for questioning, but he refused to provide further details.
The Nashville Metro Office of Emergency Management said a parked RV had exploded in a recreation area on the bank of the river, damaging several buildings. Officials told the station that crews are assessing the damage, and the fire department is asking the public to avoid the area.
Police said the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also investigating, and law enforcement authorities have closed downtown streets as the investigation continues.
Mayor John Cooper described the blast as “unfortunate,” but noted that fewer people were in the usually heavily trafficked area because it was early Christmas morning.
“It’s unfortunate,” Cooper said at a news conference, “but any other morning I think it would have been a much worse story to make sure fewer people.”
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