Crime & Safety
Explosion Rocks Downtown Nashville On Christmas
"This appears to have been an intentional act," Nashville police said of the explosion that damaged AT&T and other nearby buildings.
NASHVILLE, TN — An explosion linked to a recreational vehicle has rattled downtown Nashville on Christmas morning, and authorities say it appears to be an intentional act.
The explosion happened about 6:30 a.m. on 2nd Avenue downtown, Metro Nashville police said on Twitter. Investigators from the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have joined state and local authorities, police said.
"This appears to have been an intentional act. Law enforcement is closing downtown streets as investigation continues," police said.
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At least three people were injured but the injuries were not life-threatening, WKRN reported, citing the Nashville Fire Department.
Black smoke and flames were seen early Friday billowing from the area, which is packed with bars, restaurants and other retail establishments and is known as the heart of downtown Nashville’s tourist scene, the Associated Press reported.
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Mayor John Cooper told WMSV that at least 20 buildings in the area of 2nd Avenue and Commerce Street had been damaged.
An AT&T facility was among the nearby buildings hit by the explosion; there were reports that internet and cellular outages were affecting AT&T customers Christmas Day in the Nashville area.
Police in Murfreesboro said the department's 911 and non-emergency lines were down because AT&T was experiencing an outage. At 12:57 p.m. Friday, the Murfreesboro Police Department said anyone needing to call 911 or reach the department should call 629-201-5056 until further notice.
AT&T confirmed the Nashville explosion damaged its facilities, causing service disruption for customers in Nashville and surrounding areas.
We are aware and appreciate your patience. Service for some customers in Nashville & surrounding areas may be affected by damage to our facilities from the explosion this morning. We are in contact with law enforcement & working as quickly as possible to restore service.
— AT&T Help (@ATTHelp) December 25, 2020
The FBI will take the lead in the investigation, spokesperson Joel Siskovic told the AP. The agency is primarily responsible for investigating federal crimes, such as explosives violations.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the explosion, White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said Friday morning.
With reporting from Patch editors Josh Bakan and Maggie Fusek
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