Nashville Bombing Terrorizes Downtown Nashville, TN (Videos)

BY LISA MICHELLE


Video (above): Briefing on the vehicle explosion in downtown Nashville by Don Aaron, Nashville Police Spokesman; Donald Q. Cochran, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee; John Drake, Chief of Nashville Metro Police; Matt Foster, FBI Special Agent in Charge; Micky French, ATF Special Agent in Charge (National Field Division); and William Swann, Director Chief of Nashville Fire Department (Dec. 25) | NTD

This story is still developing . . .

An early morning Christmas explosion terrorized downtown Nashville, Tennessee, and has sent law enforcement reeling for what they describe as an intentional act. Three individuals with minor injuries were transported to the hospital. Surveillance video from the area is being collected and reviewed, and no other danger is thought to be imminent at this time.

The vehicle exploded outside of the AT&T building at 166 Second Avenue North, reported Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron at a press conference held by Federal and local Nashville law enforcement authorities this afternoon. They are unsure at this time whether it was intentionally targeted or is just a coincidence.

According to Nashville Chief of Police John Drake, officers responded to a 5:30 a.m. call for shots fired in the downtown area of Nashville, Tennessee, on Second Avenue North near Commerce Street. Responding officers encountered an RV, from which a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate within 15 minutes eerily emanated.

Residents of the buildings nearby were quickly evacuated and emergency communications were established. Shortly after, the RV exploded. A video hauntingly captures the moments leading up to the blast.

“All units [? inaudible] in this area must be evacuated now. If you can hear this message, evacuate now,” a voice repeatedly resonates at the scene, which is followed by a deafening explosion a few seconds later.

Video (above): Nashville Explosion (Dec. 25, 2020) | S McG

“An officer was knocked to the ground,” says Chief Drake, “and the other officer was fine.”

Canine bomb dogs are combing the area, and Tennessee Highway Patrol have been deployed. Traffic in the downtown area is restricted.

The FBI and ATF are heading the investigation and coordinating closely with Nashville police and other first responders, law enforcement agencies, and personnel, including structural engineers and urban search and rescue to ensure there are no other victims and the buildings are safe.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen has been briefed on the incident and will devote all necessary resources to the investigation.

Micky French, ATF National Field Division Special Agent in Charge, has assured the public that his agency is partnering with the other law enforcement agencies and that the ATF has already activated its national response team, which is comprised of certified explosive specialists, chemists, engineers, and evidence recovery and interview teams.

FBI experts nationwide will also be involved, including technical experts, the FBI lab, the Hazardous Devices School, and evidence response teams. “We will find out what happened here,” insists Foster.

The FBI has asked the public for help with information and leads.
Submit tips online at www.fbi.gov/nashville or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

At the time of the first press briefing, law enforcement was unsure if someone had been in the RV during the blast. CBS Senior Correspondent Catherine Herridge later reported that, based on intelligence sources, human remains have been found near the site but have not indicated whether they are from someone connected to explosion or from an innocent victim.

An evening press briefing held by the FBI and the Nashville Police and Mayor confirms her report.

Video (above): Nashville PD says human remains may have be found near explosion site (Dec. 25, 2020) | Fox News (Photo: Associated Press/ Mark Humphrey)


Yaron Steinbuch reported in the New York Post earlier:

A bomb squad was heading to the scene — just blocks from the historic Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry — when the blast took place around 6:30 a.m., knocking one cop to the ground.

There was no immediate evidence that a shooting had actually taken place, Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said.

“We do believe that the explosion was an intentional act,” Aaron told reporters during a brief news conference.

Three people were injured and rushed to the hospital, but none were in critical condition, authorities said.

Photos and videos showed storefronts shattered, rubble littering the street and multiple fires sending black smoke into the sky.

Mayor John Cooper, who toured the area, said at least 20 buildings were damaged, with insulation “blown up” into the trees that remained on the block.

“It looks like a bomb went off,” Cooper said.

“One more event in Nashville’s 2020.”

The FBI will be taking the lead in the probe, bureau spokesman Joel Siskovic said, Reuters reported.

The explosion happened about 6:30 a.m. in the vicinity of Second Avenue and Broadway and could be felt for miles as heavy black smoke billowed skyward at the site, WKRN reported.


 

The Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management said a parked recreational vehicle exploded.

The explosion, which was felt nine blocks away, destroyed several other vehicles, damaged buildings and launched black smoke that could be seen for miles, according to Reuters.

Mayor John Cooper, who toured the scene, described broken glass and water mains with insulation “blown up” into the trees.

“It looks like a bomb went off,” said Cooper, adding that the downtown area will be “sealed off” during the investigation and to make sure everything is “completely safe.” 

“One more event in Nashville’s 2020,” the mayor said. 

Buck McCoy, who lives nearby, posted videos on Facebook that show water pouring down the ceiling of his home, CNN reported. People are heard shouting in distress as alarms blare in the background.

McCoy said the windows of his home were completely blown out.

APTOPIX Nashville ExplosionEmergency personnel work at the scene of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn. AP

“All my windows, every single one of them got blown into the next room. If I had been standing there it would have been horrible,” he said.

“There were about four cars on fire. I don’t know if it was so hot they just caught on fire, and the trees were all blown apart,” McCoy said.

He told CNN that he saw three cars that were “fully engulfed” in flames.


 

“There was trees laying everywhere, glass laying everywhere,” he said, adding that he saw some people who looked as if they were in shock though not physically injured.

The owner of the Nashville Downtown Hostel told the paper that guests were evacuated to Nissan Stadium after he got a call from his staff reporting hearing a “loud boom” and the fire alarm going off. 

He said the hostel was damaged in the blast but did not go provide details. 

Images and videos showed flames and smoke as alarms went off inside several buildings.

A video posted by Ryan Graney shows the scene, where buildings are badly damaged and flames are burning.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said on Twitter that the state would provide the resources necessary “to determine what happened and who was responsible. Please join @MariaLeeTN and me in praying for those who were injured and we thank all of our first responders who acted so quickly this morning.”

With Post wires

Smoke billows from the site of an explosion in the area of Second and Commerce in Nashville, Tennessee.
via REUTERS
Lisa Michelle
Latest posts by Lisa Michelle (see all)
Tags

Lisa Michelle

America's Civil War Rising (ACWR) is a grassroots educational and public benefits organization. All views and opinions expressed by third-party contributors and authors that are posted and contained on our website herein are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of ACWR, its founding members, volunteers, and/or supporters. America's Civil War Rising strives to ensure the accuracy and credibility of all news and information but makes no claim as to the veracity or accuracy of any of the views or opinions expressed by third-party authors herein.

Donate with PayPalSupport Our Vital Work

Sign Up for Daily Email Notifications of Our Posts

Email Address *

Legal Policies

Eyes on Terror

ORDER OUR BOOKS

By Nancy Hartevelt KobrinLOOK INSIDE
By Nancy Hartevelt KobrinLOOK INSIDE
By Nancy Hartevelt KobrinLOOK INSIDE
By Nancy Hartevelt KobrinLOOK INSIDE
Nancy Hartevelt KobrinLOOK INSIDE
READ OUR BOOK REVIEWSAND ORDER YOUR COPIES NOW!

Authors

Recommended Sites