accidentally stuck on the accelerator, and so then that drove into this or were they intentionally aiming for it. were there any other vehicles we're trying to transit statement, that are suspicious. are those vehicles being checked out? those are some of the questions and some of the things they would be investigating, certainly if they can get a license plate or vin number off this vehicle, they may identify who owned it, whether it was stolen or not, the background of it. there's all sorts of questions in things they could start to investigate to determine of course if there's any identification they could find of the occupants that would be helpful as well. so those are the types of things they'll look at and run it against anybody's prior, you know, do they have any sort of prior interactions with law enforcement or is it somebody that may have a known medical condition, such as a heart issue or other issue that could have led to them becoming unconscious before this incident having their foot stuck on the accelerator, and obviously the end result in some of the images that we have started to see. but obviously this border crossing is now closed and it certainly, again, given the fact that it's the day before thanksgiving, and given the environment that we're in has people concerned! . >> if you'll stay with us, i want to bring in carmen best, an msnbc law enforcement analyst. we know officials have converged on the scene, local, state, now fbi. talk about what could be going on right now, particularly with local law enforcement. >> well, as tom mentioned, it could be a whole host of different scenarios, but at this point, everyone's going to assume that it could potentially be the worst thing would be some sort of intentional attack or, you know, on the u.s. or a suicide mission. we're not sure. lone wolf person or maybe even a medical condition. certainly everybody is going to be on alert, as noted, the fbi the federal authorities, u.s. customs and border patrol, local police will be there as well. trying to gather as much information. we see from the video there's a large explosion. what precipitated that explosion. who was the driver, you know, run the plates find out who the tags belong to, and start circling from that. have there been any recent threats. as tom, again, mentioned in this current environment we're in, you know, highly energized political environment. there's a whole lot of potential there. they're not going to leave any stone uncovered, and they're going to really work to see what exactly happened. >> tom, i understand you may have some new information for us? >> yeah, chris, i think we may have got our lines crossed a little bit. i was actually on the phone. i was making sure my mic was cut. i think we'll have more information shortly, and i'll hand it back to you and chief best, if that's okay. >> let me ask you first, tom, and i'll hand it over, but we're seeing what looks to be the niagara falls police department there. when you have a situation like this that brings in state, federal, local officials, who's in charge, tom, how does that coordination work, and how quickly do they get that coordination going generally? >> it's a federal border crossing. it will be cvp, the fbi, certainly the local law enforcement there will be able to secure this crossing, as you clearly see that they're doing, the pictures that we're looking at, and obviously if they need to bring in a fire department that can be brought in for two reasons, if they have any sort of suspicious devices that they want to look at, you need fire to help out sometimes, and disrupting a potential second device. again, we haven't heard that, but i hope to have more information on that for you shortly here, chris. >> and in the post 9/11 environment, and again, we don't know that this is terrorism, we have no idea, carmen, what is happening here. what's the training like for local officials, and would you expect that it would be a high level around niagara falls, just because it is right at a border crossing. >> absolutely. a high level of caution and training is that you assume that it could potentially be some sort of terrorist attack, and we want to make sure that we're doing all things that are trained to do. look for secondary devices, you know, ensure that there are threats. treated very seriously until the evidence shows something different. at this point, again, it's early on. lots of units converging on the scene. they're going to lock down the area, first and foremost, and then start working their way through what occurred. pull all the evidence that they can. start running, you know, if they can get information on the plates and the tag, where it came from, identify who the owners may be, if, in fact, there are other threats. they're going to be sharing that information, setting up a command post, safe access routes, making sure that all the command information is following through and being shared with all the other interested stake holders. >> there's also, carmen, i assume, a secondary and important job that local officials will have, which is as we mentioned, it is thanksgiving weekend, it is a record setting weekend. tens of millions of people expected to be on the road. so they have a logistical nightmare as well that they'll need, probably all hands on deck for, wouldn't you think? >> yeah, absolutely. depending upon how long this closure is in place. and it could be significant. my understanding is that other bridges coming into that area have also been closed in abundance of caution since we don't know, this is some sort of coordinated thing or potentially where this could go. at a post 9/11 environment, we want to take off cautions early on. >> i want to bring in frank figliuzzi, counter assistant director of counter intelligence on the fbi. we know the fbi is on scene. what are they doing precisely right now? >> chris, they're gathering every fact and shred of evidence. they're also working closely with their partners in canada. the fbi has a number of satellite offices throughout canada, including the closest one there in ottawa, so they will be looking at any knowledge of this car or the people in the car or who rented the car, purchased the car, et cetera, and, you know, when we're hearing reports of explosion of this size, this really speaks to explosives versus, say, a car malfunction. multiple reports across various media platforms, talking about a sizable explosion, potential injuries, even one main street media report, possibly cdt officer being injured. the other thing that's going to happen automatically is they will operate from an assumption because they have to these days, that this is a terrorist attack. that's just the assumption that they'll act under just in an abundance of caution, so that they get it right. and they'll be listening to all kinds of source coverage throughout the u.s. intelligence community. see if there was any chatter, any clue that something was up here. and then writ large, there will be a concern if there are potentially other attempts being made throughout border crossings, so don't be surprised if we see other additional border crossings closed or enhanced security like jar jacks going to every car and checking, as opposed to random car checks. it might even ultimately involve nearby airports so that enhanced security is occurring. all on the presumption, temporarily that this could be some larger attempt at terrorism. lastly, i'll just point out that, you know, it's not necessarily the bridge itself that would have been the target. although that would be, perhaps, a worthy target, but rather we have seen in the past actors who try to get into the united states in the hopes that they won't be part of a random pull over or random security check. they'll just be waived through. they'll show i.d., get through, and if that happens, they get through with explosives, and then they hit and head toward, perhaps, a larger planned target. but the secondary plan could be if we get stopped, if we get secondaried, we're going to detonate right here. that's all going through the fbi's mind right now. what happened, who did this, and why. >> so we were talking about surveillance video, and the possibility of getting important clues from there. what will officials be looking for? i assume, frank, speed. did they breakthrough anything. all the normal things that would say, this wasn't just a car that was making its way across the bridge, that suddenly something happened to. >> yeah, indeed. the cameras will be extremely helpful, so, for example, they will also be looking at cars that might have been behind or in front of this vehicle. they will be going through footage for the entire day to see if similar cars, similar subjects might have come through that might have been associated with it. did one get through without being secondary, and specifically, with this vehicle, what caused this to happen. in other words, were they motioned to pull over by cbp? were they stopped and questioned? did these subjects get out of their vehicle? were there words exchanged? were there weapons displaced? did a trunk get opened by a cbt officer, an accidental detonation occur. all of this might be on video. >> so given the idea that you have to consider all possibilities from best case scenario to worst case scenario, what kind of perimeter? what kind of security are they putting in place before they can determine whether this was a loan incident at least at this location, frank? >> yeah, so we're hearing, of course, reports that at least this bridge and border crossing is closed and that is very very smart. you don't even know with regard to the size of the explosion, whether there's been a physical compromise to the border crossing, whether it can function in the foreseeable future, and i think in close coordination with the canadians, you'll see the canadian government start enhancing security in terms of who's coming, who's backed up in the line waiting to come if this reopens, and there will be investigative work done there, as i said, are there potential other suspects to come over as well. the perimeter is smart, i think you'll see it extended into canada, and i won't be surprised if other northern u.s./canada border crossings are subject to closure or enhanced security. >> how strong and how familiar is the relationship between officials here, the fbi, and their counter parts in canada, frank? >> oh, it is seamless, i actually can't think of another -- and remember the fbi has the liaison offices in something like 200 countries. i can't think of a seamless, daily type of contact interaction than fbi and the canadian authorities. i mean, they know each other. they know their kids' names, they're at lunch, and having a beer every day. they're passing intel every day. the level of traffic, as you can imagine, between the two nations is constant. it's a seamless operation. >> so, frank, i want to get your take on a couple of things that are being reported by the niagara gazette. that obviously is the local newspaper. we do not have nbc confirmation of that, so i want to put that warning on it. they say that witnesses saw smoke and fire from the vehicle at the rainbow bridge. a car reportedly sped the wrong way into the inspection booths where the explosion occurred. in fact, a border protection agent, they report, was injured, although not seriously. he's been treated for nonlife threatening injuries at the niagara falls memorial medical center, but the car was speeding down one street on to the bridge plaza. went through a fence separating inbound lanes to the outbound lanes toward the inspection lanes where it explode ed. that is according to law enforcement sources at the scene who were spoken to by the reporter at the "niagara gazette," your take on that, frank? >> look, we never say never with regard to the possibility that this was an accident, and that someone had a medical condition, and their foot got stuck on an accelerator. when you're talking about going the wrong way and accelerated speed, and apparent targeting of an inspection building or kiosk or booth, this tends to weight the scale over the targeted attack, and you think is this an iconic target? well, it is a government target. if you're truly aiming for a u.s. inspection facility, you are almost guaranteed to damage a u.s. government property, and even injure u.s. officials. we should be pleased at this early state of information that perhaps only one cvb officer was injured. this could have been a whole lot worse. i'm back on my focus to the size of explosion to kind of negate the possibility of an accident. the car crashing into a building may or may not result in a sizable explosion. if you've got explosives on board, you're going to see a much larger explosion. >> let me go over to tom winter. i think he now has some of his own reporting on that. tom, what have you found out? >> right, chris. i'm including the reporting of my colleague, jonathan dienst and i. four senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter tell nbc news that a vehicle apparently approached the check point or inspection building at a high rate of speed, hits that structure, catches on fire and explodes from there. however, i think this is quite important and of course this information is early, subject to change as evidence comes in. an initial sweep of that vehicle did not indicate that there was a secondary device, so in other words, there's no indication at this point that there was a bomb on board this vehicle in any sort of way. so that's the first thing. the second thing that we're hearing from those officials is that there were two occupants of the vehicle. then there are two casualties as a result of this, and i think the pictures that are circulating that will hopefully be able to bring to you shortly will indicate why that's the case, the damage appears to be extraordinary. based on some things that are being sent to us at this time. we should have those for you shortly, and then the third thing is, they are trying to determine whether or not this incident was intentional. of course if it was intentional, what is the motive behind it, is it anti-government, terrific on behalf of a terrorist organization. it's too soon to say. hopefully we'll be able to share that information with you shortly as authorities gather evidence. again, it's based on what they have been able to collect so far, chris. the initial indication, vehicle, high rate of speed, hits the structure. there's a fire, and then subsequent explosion. but authorities have not been able to find any sort of secondary device, so the feeling in law enforcement circles is it's not a veibd, which is a vehicle born improvised explosive device. so that's where this stands. as we get more, as we start to develop any sort of information from our reporting on the identities of these individuals, and what may have happened here. of course i'll jump back on with you in a way. >> thank you so much for that, frank. if the early indication or at least the initial indication is that there was not a bomb in the car, based on your experience, how likely is it that that is going to end up being final conclusion? what are they doing to make that determination? >> well, i think some clarity, excuse me, some clarity is needed because we've heard tom say that authorities are reporting. they could not find a, quote, secondary device. secondary device means there was a first device. so i think we need some clarity on that. we're saying no secondary device found, but therefore no bomb. they're not mutually exclusive. so we don't know. again, i'm focused on the size of the explosion. certainly a full gas tank that, you know, was accompanied by a crash. especially with witnesses saying the explosion occurred after the crash. that explosion could be the result of the crash. and the gas tank catching fire. and that would rule out potentially terrorism. but it can't rule out the possibility that someone actually targeted that inspection station. so very early. tnes statements and video security, very important right d we're kind of at a point where we just need more information. >> yeah, we got an initial post from new york governor kathy hochul, one of the first officials to announce that something had happened on the bridge. i have just been handed a statement from the senate majority leader chuck schumer who is from new york saying he's closely monitoring the situation on the rainbow bridge crossing between the u.s. and canada, affirming that federal, state and local law enforcement are there, and thanking brave first responders. i also want to bring in gabe gutierrez at the white house. what can you tell us from there? >> reporter: hi there, chris, we got a statement from the spokesperson for the national security council saying that the white house is closely monitoring the situation that law enforcement is on scene and investigating. right now, authorities are really taking great pains to caution what could be behind this, and whether this could or could not be, in fact, terrorism, they're cautioning us against that. i just got off the phone with an official from customs and border protection who could not confirm details of this event, and perhaps whether any cvp officers might have been injured. so still very fluid at this point. again, chris, the white house saying that it is closely monitoring the situation, and essentially waiting for more information from local law enforcement on the scene. we understand the fbi is the lead agency down there, and you're looking at those live pictures. a massive law enforcement presence as the white house and local authorities and as you're hearing, officials from the state of new york are closely looking at this and hesitant to provide further confirmation about what may have happened as law enforcement investigates, chris? >> do we know if the president has been briefed on this yet, gabe? >> reporter: we asked that question. we have not heard back on whether president biden has been briefed. he is in nantucket for the thanksgiving holiday, but again, his national security team is monitoring the situation and we're awaiting word to hear if president biden is being or has been briefed on this at its early stages. >> thank you so much, gabe gutierrez, i know you'll get back to us if you learn more about this. frank figliuzzi, let's me go back to you. obviously we're seeing what a heavy presence there is there. and i ask this obviously in the context of this is thanksgiving weekend. there is going to be extraordinarily heavy traffic today, tomorrow, sunday is expected to be the heaviest, potentially the heaviest of the year. how quickly could they get people on scene, get the investigating done that they need to get done. i assume make sure of the structural integrity of the bridge, and potentially get things moving again? >> i don't anticipate that this is going to take an inordinate amount of time if that there is a sizable fbi office right there in buffalo. they can easily call upon fbi new york, the largest fbi office that will come out of manhattan. and of course the canadians may assist as well. with regard to department of transportation or other agency coming on and checking for integrity of the bridge itself, again, that's going to be a priority on this holiday weekend. i will say i'm taking some encouragement from the fact, and you know, we'll take what we can get, chris, the explosion reportedly happened after the crash. that's very different than a detonated device prior to a crash or because someone was secondary or because they're being confronted and that's good news if that's accurate, and i think investigators will fairly quickly be able to figure out who belongs to that car, who was in the car. it will be some i.d. that can be s