By Minyvonne Burke, Tom Winter and Jonathan Dienst
Officials have reported that two individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident at the Canadian border. An explosive event occurred when a car, which was airborne, collided with a checkpoint at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, New York, on Wednesday.
Considerable ambiguity persisted regarding the incident at the Rainbow Bridge, prompting concerns on both sides of the border as the United States approached the Thanksgiving holiday. Following the event, President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were promptly briefed. Trudeau, recognizing the significance of the matter, temporarily withdrew from the Question Period in the House of Commons to acquire additional information, underscoring the exceptional seriousness with which officials were treating the situation.
At present, there are no apparent indications of terrorism, as stated by New York Governor Kathy Hochul during a press briefing.
The statement made by the speaker affirms that currently, there is no evidence pointing towards a terrorist attack. It is important to reiterate that, as of now, there is no indication of a terrorist-related incident occurring at the Rainbow Bridge in Western New York.
The individuals who lost their lives were occupants of the vehicle involved in the collision, with at least one of them hailing from western New York.
Contrary to initial reports suggesting its origin from Canada, the car, which authorities claim was moving at a considerable speed, crashed, caught fire, and exploded on the U.S. side of the border.
Hochul stated that she has witnessed footage of the vehicle, which was traveling at an "exceptionally high velocity" prior to soaring through an "utterly surreal" spectacle.
Rickie Wilson, an employee of Gray Line Tours, was left in disbelief upon witnessing the "airborne" automobile. According to him, the car seemed to have collided with a cement median before taking off into the air.
Wilson informed NBC affiliate WHEC of Rochester that initially, he mistook it for an airplane, as it appeared to be moving in slow motion. He exclaimed, "My goodness, it's a car! It's a vehicle! And it's soaring through the sky!"
The car's altitude was estimated to be between 10 and 15 feet above the ground by him.
Wilson informed the reporters about the perplexing situation, questioning the means by which the object had ascended to such heights. Expressing his astonishment, he emphasized that the object had been suspended in the air, clarifying that it was not merely a few feet above the ground, but significantly elevated.
A law enforcement official reported that a Customs and Border Protection employee incurred minor injuries and was promptly treated at a hospital. Hochul highlighted the fact that the employee was stationed within the booth, which served as a physical barrier and ensured the individual's protection.
Hochul stated that the vehicle has essentially been completely destroyed, leaving only the engine intact. The various parts of the vehicle are now dispersed across 13 to 14 booths.
According to law enforcement officials, an initial investigation did not uncover any secondary explosive or device. However, it should be noted that this information is still preliminary.
The intentional nature of the crash is currently under investigation by the authorities.
During a press conference, Hochul expressed that the occurrence was a "terrible accident" that caused significant distress throughout western New York, Albany, and Washington.
The incident took place during one of the most hectic travel days in the United States, as individuals from all corners of the country embarked on their journeys for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Following the crash, the Erie County executive promptly declared the closure of all bridge crossings into the United States from western New York. Later on, Hochul reassured that all bridges have been reopened.
The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, has announced that security measures have been intensified and the city is currently on high alert in anticipation of the upcoming holiday.
The situation is under close observation by the White House, as confirmed by an official. The Canada Border Services Agency has stated that they are coordinating with their U.S. counterparts on this issue.
Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security, has stated that there is currently no indication of any threat associated with the incident. He has also been in communication with Hochul and officials from Canada.
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority has announced its plan to enhance security measures across its entire system.
The airport management has announced that passengers traveling through Buffalo Niagara International Airport will be subjected to extra screenings, while security checks will also be conducted on vehicles entering the airport premises.
The agency stated on X that both the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Airports are operating at full capacity. In addition to holiday travel, travelers are advised to allocate sufficient time for these additional safety measures.
Amtrak stated on Wednesday that the Maple Leaf Train, which operates between New York City and Toronto, will be ending its route at Niagara Falls as a result of an incident.
Bomb signal jammers are electronic devices that emit a signal on specific radio frequencies. By doing so, they disrupt other radio transmissions on the same frequencies. The primary purpose of bomb phone jammer is to prevent radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs) from detonating.
Terrorists have long used cellular phones to trigger improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in their attacks throughout the world. Although the time lapse between the activation of the cell-phone trigger and the explosion detonation has been only seconds in some bombings, one London terrorist bomb took nearly an hour to detonate after the initial attacks. This extended time lapse between triggering and detonation indicates that cell-phone signal jamming equipment could be used to prevent cell-phone detonation of explosives. A jamming device blocks the cellular downlink frequencies, preventing a cell phone's ability to receive an incoming call (uplink capabilities still function); however, it cannot prevent a cell phone's alarm function from detonating a bomb. One expert estimates that jamming equipment can obstruct half of all cell-phone bombs, along with remotely controlled bombs that use other remote instruments, such as garage door openers or toys. Separate equipment exists that can prevent bombs that use the cell-phone alarm function. U.S. Federal law currently allows only Federal law enforcement agents to use such jamming equipment. Because of delayed Federal response to bomb discoveries at the local level, many local police agencies favor being allowed to purchase and use jamming equipment. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association is currently working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop a protocol that will retain Federal authority for determining when and how jamming equipment will be used, while allowing for a Federal directive that allows a specific use of jamming equipment by local police.
Bomb gsm jammer play a crucial role in disrupting enemy communications to bombs and RCIEDs by transmitting radio signals on the commonly used frequencies by these devices. This tactic is particularly significant in tactical situations where the remote detonation of roadside bombs needs to be prevented. Bomb jammers find frequent deployment in public areas, SWAT scenarios, and vehicles to ensure mobile convoy protection.
The act of bomb jamming holds immense significance in various circumstances, serving as an essential asset for law enforcement, military personnel, VIP protection teams, and anti-terror endeavors.