Police seek clues in New York blast that left 29 people injured

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday (September 18) there was still no indication that an explosion that injured 29 people in Manhattan on Saturday was linked to international terrorism, while investigators scoured the scene of the blast.

“We know there was a bombing. That much we do know. We know is a very serious incident but we have a lot more work to do to be able to say what kind of motivation was behind this. Was it a political motivation a personal motivation?. What was it? We do not know that yet,” de Blasio said.

FBI investigators were to examine remnants of the bomb plus an unexploded device found four blocks away and another device that exploded about 80 miles (130 km) away in New Jersey on Saturday to see if they were connected, Cuomo said.

No international group had claimed responsibility according to New York Police Department Commissioner James O’neill.

With world leaders due to arrive in the city ahead of the U.N. General assembly, some 1,000 additional state police and National Guard officers were being sent to the city to patrol transportation hubs as a precaution, officials said.

Heads of state and government begin six days of speeches in New York on Tuesday, with some dignitaries arriving early for preliminary events.

A sweep of the neighborhood following the blast had turned up another device four blocks away consisting of a pressure cooker with wires attached to it and connected to a cell phone.

Pressure cooker bombs were used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and wounded more than 260.

“The investigatory agencies continue to look to see if there is any specific connection to the incident in New Jersey. At this point we do not have any specific evidence of a connection but that will continue to be considered,” de Blasio said.

The New Jersey explosion came from a pipe bomb, officials said.