Explosion in Central Park likely caused by fireworks, no threat to city found

MANHATTAN, NY (KUSI) — 4:30 p.m. — Police are calling the explosion in Central Park an “experiment with fireworks.”

According to the New York Times, law enforcement officials do not believe the situation was terrorism-related.

“It is not unusual for the public to make or try to create homemade fireworks around the Fourth of July,” said John O’Connell, a deputy police chief for counterterrorism with the New York Police Department.

New York mayor, Bill de Blasio said the police have not received any threats over the holiday weekend.

12:00 p.m. — A least one person was badly injured Sunday after an explosion went off in Central Park.

According to the New York Daily News, a man visiting from Virginia lost his left foot during an incident around 11 a.m. (EST) involving what investigators believe was an explosion from fireworks. 

NYPD’s bomb squad was called to the area of the park near E. 60th St. and Fifth Ave, but initial investigations concluded that an explosive device was not used in the incident.

NYDN reports that the victim was identified as Connor Golden, 18, from Fairfax, Va.

Golden was with two friends, who were identified as Thomas Hinds, 20, and Matthew Stabile, 18. They denied having any fireworks on them at the time of explosion.

Hinds told the NYDN that he didn’t want to call the incident an explosion, because it wasn’t very large.

“I want to say someone planted a firework or bottle rocket,” Hinds said.

The explosion was heard by attendees of Elie Wiesel’s funeral on E. 61st St. — though there was no sign the blast was related to the memorial, according to the NYDN.

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.