The Rainbow Bridge blast that killed two people and sparked fears of a terrorist attack remains under investigation. The mayor of Niagara Falls, Robert Restaino, told The New York Times that a mechanical failure could be to blame for the explosion. Investigators are now probing whether the Bentley the couple, identified on Friday as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint. Dramatic footage captured the vehicle speeding up before it hit a curb on the US side of the border, became airborne and then combusted, killing the pair inside.
The blast instantly sparked fears of a terrorist attack but New York Governor Kathy Hochul and FBI officials later said there was “no sign of terrorist activity”. The investigation into the cause is ongoing.
The couple, who had been planning to attend a KISS concert in Toronto, was speeding in their Bentley when the car rammed into the Rainbow Bridge crossing, killing them both. The concert was cancelled earlier in the day due to frontman Paul Stanley becoming ill with the flu.
The cause of the explosion is still a mystery, but the investigation is ongoing as authorities rule out any signs of terrorism. Stay tuned for updates as the investigation progresses.