The mayor of Nashville has praised the police officers who ran into harm's way ahead of the explosion that ripped through a downtown neighbourhood on Friday morning.
Six officers took “swift action” to evacuate people in buildings near the parked recreational vehicle (RV) that later exploded causing serious damage to surrounding blocks.
“These incredible heroes who ran into danger with uncertain outcomes ahead of them were responsible for so many injuries being saved,” Mayor John Cooper said on Friday evening.
He added that they acted “even at the time when their own lives were in peril.”
“They are heroes and I am grateful for them and all of Nashville’s first responders.”
The six Metro Nashville Police Department officers were named as Brenna Hosey, James Luellen, Michael Sipos, Amanda Topping, James Wells, and Sergeant Timothy Miller.
Officers were on the scene following up reports of gunshots called in by nearby residents in the early hours of Christmas morning and reports of a suspicious vehicle.
The parked RV began to ominously blare a countdown and a pre-recorded warning that it would explode in 15 minutes.
Police began clearing the streets and knocking on doors, telling people to leave their homes immediately.
The subsequent explosion damaged more than 40 buildings including an AT&T office, impacting communications across the state, including 911 calls, and briefly halting air traffic in and out of the city’s airport.
Despite the intensity of the blast, only three people required hospitalisation for injuries thanks to the evacuations ordered by the police called to the area.
Late on Friday, CBS News and The Associated Press reported that authorities found human remains near the blast site. It is unclear if the remains belong to someone in the RV or a victim of the blast.
The FBI is leading the investigation and has appealed to the public for information. A photo of the RV captured on CCTV has been released to the public.
“This morning’s attack on our community was intended to create chaos and fear in this season of hope,” Mayor Cooper said on Friday evening.
He added that investigators will not rest “until those responsible for this outrageous and cowardly attack are brought to justice.”
“Nashville’s spirit can’t be broken… We can rebuild and get back to normal.”
