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New York City authorities Sunday announced the deployment of 1,000 additional state police officers and national guard officials to patrol the city following a large explosion that rocked the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan Saturday night, injuring at least 29 people,
While investigators released few details, they said the blast was “intentional” and that an explosive device was found a few blocks from the site of the blast, inside a pressure cooker that was wired to a mobile phone and tucked inside a plastic bag.
“Whoever placed these bombs, we will find and they will be brought to justice,” New York governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. “We will not allow these kinds of people and these kinds of threats to disrupt our life in New York.”
All those hospitalised by the blast had been released as of Sunday morning, but the damage to surrounding buildings was stealthy.
“When you see the damage, I think we were fortunate that there were no fatalities,” Cuomo said.
Investigators say they are also looking into an online posting by someone claiming to be “the NY bomber”.
The bombing occurred as the city prepared to welcome leaders from around the globe, at the opening of the United Nations general assembly on Monday.
It also occurred in the wake of a pipe bomb explosion in the neighbouring state of New Jersey, just hours earlier as a multitude of runners were due to take part in a charity 5km race held in the benefit of US Marines and sailors.
No injuries were reported in the blast, and there was no damage to surrounding buildings.
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey said Sunday there has been no evidence linking the attacks in the two states.
“The bombs that were in Seaside, New Jersey, appear to be different than the ones in Manhattan,” said Cuomo.
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