
DEVELOPING STORY: Tennessee Gov Bill Lee said police believe this morning’s explosion in downtown Nashville was an intentional act.
The massive Christmas morning blast damaged nearly two dozen buildings near Commerce Street and Second Avenue, near the popular Lower Broadway entertainment district.
At least three people were injured.
Police told local reporters that they received a call of a suspicious vehicle parked near the city’s AT&T building and that hazardous devices units were on their way to the vehicle when the explosion happened.
“Right now, it’s a public safety concern, to make sure everybody is accounted for and to make sure the spread of the fire doesn’t go any further,” Michael Knight, a spokesman for the ATF in Nashville, told The Associated Press.
Police and firefighters were quickly on the scene after the blast caused noticeable tremors in the surrounding area.
“The entire @WKRN studio just shook,” news anchor Josh Breslow tweeted. “Anyone else in Nashville just feel any weird shaking ??”
JUST IN: Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management district chief said a parked RV exploded and caused damage to several buildings. No injures reported. Metro crews are working to assess damage. This is near 2nd/Commerce. #NashvilleExplosion @WKRN https://t.co/G2jOCcDeBK pic.twitter.com/MUCh6cy4bq
— Nickelle Smith (@NickelleReports) December 25, 2020