UPDATE: Fox News reporter walks back claims of explosives and terror motive in US/Canada Rainbow Bridge explosion

A vehicle explosion on the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the US and Canada on Thursday was reported to be a terror attack by Fox News. The reporter who made that assertion later walked back the reports.
 

Fox News reported that sources informed them that the vehicle which exploded at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing were attempting to drive towards the border officer building. Reporter Alexis McAdams stated that she had been informed by "high level police sources" that the explosion was "an attempted terrorist attack. Sources say the car was full of explosives. Both men inside are dead."

She included a statement from the FBI, which stated that "The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a border crossing between the U.S. and Canada in Niagara Falls. The FBI is coordinating with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. As this situation is very fluid, that's all we can say at this time."

Fox News reported on air that it was an attempted terror attack as well. Government buildings were evacuated and the bridges in the area were closed.

A National Security Council spokesperson told the Daily Mail that "the White House is currently monitoring the situation, law enforcement is on-scene and investigating."

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote on X, "The President has been briefed on the vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry. He and his team are closely following developments."

Governor Kathy Hochul held a press conference to announce that the explosion was not believed to be a terror attack. "Based on what we know at this moment—and again anything can change—there is no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash," she said.

McAdams walked back her earlier reports, saying "High-level police sources say bomb techs on the scene immediately alerted all authorities that this was an attempted terror attack because they had never seen a car explosion with a debris field like that before and believed there were several explosives in the car. All government buildings were evacuated, the bridge was closed, and the airport had heightened security. Also, authorities checked all cars near the airport. Looking in the trunk and back seats. A police source says those are all steps that follow what they believed to be a terror attack."



Fox News later reported the alleged "terror attack" as a "fiery vehicle crash."

This story has been updated to reflect ongoing developments.