Explosion rocks busy New York City neighbourhood, 25 injured

New York: Around 25 people were on Sunday injured in an explosion that rocked New York's busy and upscale neighbourhood also frequented by tourists, hours before world leaders arrive here for the high-level UN General Assembly session.

The explosion - which came hours after a pipe bomb went off in a garbage can in New Jersey - occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood at 23rd St. And 6th Avenue, a busy residential and commercial area frequented by tourists and city residents, around 8:30 pm (local time) yesterday.

The Fire Department of New York tweeted that 25 people have been injured and have been taken to hospitals in the area.
Authorities said "none appear to be life-threatening at this time".

Personnel from the New York Police Department, FBI and counter-terrorism agencies are on the scene where restaurants and shops have been evacuated and subways in the area have been shut down. Mayor Bill de Blasio was also headed to the scene.

Assistant Commissioner for Communication and Public Information at the New York City Police Department J Peter Donald tweeted that authorities are responding to a report of an explosion at 23rd St. And 6th Avenue in Manhattan.

"We will update you w/more when we have it," Donald said.

The explosion came hours after another explosion went off in a garbage can in a New Jersey beach town yesterday morning. Three pipe-bomb-type devices wired together were found near the boardwalk in Seaside Park, according to CNN. No injuries were reported and a four-block area was evacuated for most of the day, authorities said.

Security is already tight in the city as nearly 190 world leaders, including President Barack Obama, will arrive in the city for the about week-long high-level annual UN General Assembly session, beginning tomorrow.

Obama has been appraised of the explosion in New York City, a White House official said.

"The president has been apprised of the explosion in New York City, the cause of which remains under investigation. The president will be updated as additional information becomes available," a White House official said.

US President Barack Obama was today apprised of the explosion in New York in which at least 25 people were injured, hours before his arrival in the city for the high-level UN General Assembly session.

An explosion rocked New York's Chelsea neighbourhood, a busy residential and commercial area in the city. More than two dozen people have been injured as a result of the explosion.

"The President has been apprised of the explosion in New York City, the cause of which remains under investigation. The president will be updated as additional information becomes available," a White House official said.

Obama is scheduled to travel to New York today and stay in the city for the next several days to attend the United Nations General Assembly session beginning tomorrow.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, was also briefed about the New York explosion.

She was in the Washington DC addressing the Congressional Black Caucus dinner.

Referring to the explosion, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said tough measures needs to be taken.

"We better get very tough. We'll find out. It's a terrible thing that's going on in our world and in our country and we are going to get tough and smart and vigilant. We'll see what it is," Trump said.