Man Injured In Explosion At Central Park
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NEW YORK (AP) — A 19-year-old man suffered a serious injury to his left foot in Central Park on Sunday, police said, and the man's friends told authorities he stepped on something that exploded.
Authorities said the man was in the park at about 11 a.m. Police said witnesses told them the man had just stepped onto a rock when an explosion occurred. People in the area said an explosion was heard blocks away.
"It sounded like a cannon," Sara Gordon told the Daily News. "I thought it was a Fourth of July thing."
The Fire Department said the man sustained a major injury, possibly an amputation, and was taken to a hospital. There was no immediate word on his condition.
He "was severely injured. His left leg was severely damaged, all bone and muscle," said John Murphy, visiting the city from Connecticut. He said he stayed at the scene with the man until emergency responders arrived.
Authorities didn't immediately identify the injured man.
The NYPD's bomb squad and police were investigating the circumstances of the explosion. Mayor Bill de Blasio sent out a tweet reminding people to stay safe around fireworks.
"Fireworks are fun — but let's leave them to the professionals," the mayor tweeted.
UPDATE: Police officials believe a homemade firework likely caused a blast in New York City's Central Park that seriously injured a man who stepped on it.
The commanding officer of the New York Police Department's bomb squad tells reporters Sunday there's no indication it was made to harm people.
Mark Torre likened the explosive to an experiment that an enthusiast with a rudimentary understanding of chemistry could build from household materials.
Investigators don't believe the injured 19-year-old or his friends took part in constructing the explosive. They're asking anyone with information to come forward.
Officials say the injured man is undergoing surgery on his left foot at a hospital. He's in stable condition.
They say police dogs are canvassing the park for possible explosives.
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