Federal authorities are investigating an explosion that took place in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday morning. Personnel at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will lead the ongoing inquiry, alongside others at the Metro Nashville Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Law enforcement is working to identify the source of the blast, which officials described as “intentional” in a press release issued following the 6:30 a.m. incident.
Police have linked the explosion to an RV parked outside a downtown Nashville building. Officers initially arrived to the area one hour prior to the incident, responding to a call that reported shots fired nearby.
The department’s Hazardous Devices Unit was assigned to scene when officers observed the “suspicious” vehicle that exploded soon after. The RV exploded before they arrived. Authorities say multiple buildings along Nashville’s 2nd Avenue were impacted, with the explosion causing extensive damage to some.
The area surrounding the site of the blast was closed off to pedestrian and vehicle traffic throughout the remainder of Friday morning as police and federal officials pursued their investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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