After a second explosive device was found and removed just four blocks from Saturday night’s explosion in Manhattan, the situation is still very much in the don’t-know-much stages. But to begin to answer one of the big questions:
“At this time there is no evidence of an international terrorism connection with this incident, but it is very, very early in the investigation,” [Gov. Andrew Cuomo] said. “Whoever placed these bombs, we will find them and they will be brought to justice.”
Mr. Cuomo said that while no known terrorist group had claimed credit for the attack, placing a bomb on a bustling city street was by its very nature a terrorist act.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, speaking on Saturday night, called the explosion — which occurred about 8:30 p.m. on West 23rd Street — “an intentional act” but said there was no connection to terrorism and no immediate claim of responsibility.
The second device appeared similar to the pressure cooker bomb used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings:
It was removed by police in the early hours of Sunday morning. The New York Times offers a succinct list of what we don’t know:
• Who was responsible for the explosion.
• A motive behind the explosion.
• What was inside the pressure cooker.
• Why the site of the explosion was selected.
At least 29 people were injured; all have been released from the hospital.