Christmas blast: vehicle explodes in US city of Nashville after chilling bomb warning
- Three people injured, with several other vehicles destroyed and buildings damaged in what police call an ‘intentional act’
- Investigators reportedly find human remains near the explosion site
A motor home that was parked on a street in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, exploded at dawn on Friday, moments after a recorded message emanating from the vehicle warned of a bomb, in what US police called an “intentional act” in the heart of the country’s music capital.
Three people were injured in the Christmas morning blast, though none critically. Authorities said it was uncertain whether anyone was inside the recreational vehicle when it exploded, but police reported hours later that investigators had found possible human remains nearby.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper ordered a curfew imposed around the blast site through the holiday weekend as FBI investigators comb the scene, though police said they were aware of no further threats to Tennessee’s most populous city.
Authorities offered no explanation as to a possible motive, and there was no claim of responsibility.
The blast came just moments after officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area and discovered the recreational vehicle parked outside an AT&T building in downtown Nashville at about 6am.
Police heard a recorded voice warning that a “bomb would detonate in 15 minutes”, Nashville Police Chief John Drake said.
The message, as captured in a recording broadcast later by local television news stations, said: “This area must be evacuated now. This area must be evacuated now. If you can hear this message, evacuate now. If you can hear this message, evacuate now.”