An explosion that shook downtown Nashville early Friday appears to have been “an intentional act,” police said, as officers and firefighters investigated the scene with assistance from federal personnel.
The Metro Nashville Police Department said the blast occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time and was connected to a vehicle in the neighborhood.
“This appears to have been an intentional act,” the police department tweeted. “Law enforcement is closing downtown streets as investigation continues.” They department said they are investigating along with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
MNPD, FBI & ATF investigating the 6:30 a.m. explosion on 2nd Ave N linked to a vehicle. This appears to have been an intentional act. Law enforcement is closing downtown streets as investigation continues. pic.twitter.com/YOfMTaKmTH
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) December 25, 2020
“There is an incident involving an explosion,” the Nashville Fire Department said in a statement reported by local Fox 17 earlier in the morning. “This is an active scene. Metro Nashville Police Department and Nashville Fire Department are on the scene.”
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.
Police and firefighters were quickly on the scene after the blast caused noticeable tremors in the surrounding area.
“The entire @WKRN studio just shook,” the outlet’s alert desk anchor Josh Breslow tweeted. “Anyone else in Nashville just feel any weird shaking ??”
The entire @WKRN studio just shook. Anyone else in Nashville just feel any weird shaking ??
— Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowWKRN) December 25, 2020
According to social media posts, the explosion resulted in significant damage to a building that was on fire, with dozens of people evacuated.
BREAKING: Large explosion in downtown Nashville "heavy structural damage".. evacuting lofts @ 2nd/Commerce – per Nashville Fire radio traffic – some walking out on their own – glass and steel 'EVERYWHERE' – 2nd/Union staging
— Jason Steen (@jasonashville) December 25, 2020
BREAKING/(CON'T): NFD reports "20-30 people evacuated" from upper lofts – <5 require medical attention at this time, calling them the "walking wounded" w/non-serious injuries
— Jason Steen (@jasonashville) December 25, 2020
The Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management reportedly stated that the blast came from a parked RV that exploded.
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
Singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope was one of those who felt the effects of the incident.
“Our house shook here in Nashville,” Pope tweeted. “Just praying nobody was hurt.”
https://twitter.com/CassadeePope/status/1342455460880900096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1342455460880900096%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fus%2Fnashville-explosion-downtown-christmas-day
Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., expressed well-wishes for city residents.
Praying for all residents of downtown Nashville on this Christmas Day.
— Jim Cooper (@repjimcooper) December 25, 2020
See pics here: https://www.foxnews.com/us/nashville-explosion-downtown-christmas-day
‘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.’
On Msmbc they said the police were responding to reports of shots fired. Then they noticed a suspicious vehicle?