Nashville Police was joined by the FBI as the investigation into the downtown Nashville explosion that was labeled “an intentional act.”
Police said that the recreational vehicle that exploded early on Christmas morning was parked there at around 1:22 a.m. and when cops were called to the site over shots being fired, they’ve been warned via a recording that the van was about to explode.
For the following minutes, officers risked their lives while trying to evacuate residents and passersby.
“The officers immediately began knocking on doors and evacuating residents here not knowing if the bomb was going to detonate immediately or if it was going to go off in the time that it stated.”
At the press conference Friday evening, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake added that human remains were found at the explosion site.
“We found a tissue that we believe could be human remains. We’ll have that examined and we’ll be able to tell you from that point.”
At least two police officers and three people sustained injuries. It was unclear if there was anyone inside the RV when it went off.
The explosion occurred at around 6:30 a.m. Friday halted Nashville International Airport temporarily due to the interruption of phone and internet in the air traffic control tower.
The communication services were impacted for more than an hour in the area surrounding the blast site.
Mayor John Cooper issued a curfew for the area of the explosion from Friday evening to Sunday evening as authorities probe possible imminent threats.
