UPDATED ARTICLE INCLUDES RECORDING OF ACTUAL RECORDS ALERT PHRASES
Nashville authorities, state and federal authorities update the public on ‘massive’ explosion (via Fox News).
Police evacuated the area when they heard a recording broadcast from the Recreational Vehicle (RV) that a bomb would go off in 15 minutes, according to Nashville Chief of Police John Drake. Police immediately began to evacuate the area before the RV exploded. The recording playing is believed to have originated from the RV. Police had responded to the area to a report of shots fired at about 5:30 a.m. CT.
The ATF and FBI and Metro Nashville Police Department are working together on the investigation.
Three patients were transported to hospital(s) with minor injuries. Initially police stated they do not know if there was anyone inside the RV.
Urban Search and Rescue and Hazmat teams are going into buildings to secure the area.
Several buildings have structural damage.
No further briefings were planned for today.
No other imminent danger to the city are known at this time.
“This area must be evacuated now… If you can hear this message, evacuate now.” These were the words captured on a security camera microphone before a large blast occurred early Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee (Posted by CGTN, which is funded in whole or in part by the Chinese government).
A recorded female voice was broadcast apparently from the RV parked on 2nd Avenue. The message announced “This area must be evacuated now… with an unintelligible word between the repeated phrase. Next, the announcement transitioned to, “If you can hear this message, evacuate now.” The messages were captured on a security camera microphone just before the Christmas Day attack occurred. Shortly after the blast occurred, police said the explosion was “an intentional blast.” The security camera was located near 154 2nd Avenue N, which is the building where Dick’s Last Resort and Buffalo’s Nashville Sports Bar are located. The Old Spaghetti Factory and Coyote Ugly are also located nearby. The camera faces a parking garage across the street where a Sbarro is located. The RV visual is not captured by the security camera in this video; only the audio message. The RV was parked about 100 feet northwest of the security camera, as 2nd Avenue runs on an angle NNW to SSE, parallel to the Cumberland River. The RV was parked in front of The Melting Pot establishment, a fondue restaurant chain located at 166 2nd Ave N downtown Nashville. Also, near The Melting Pot to the north is a Rodizio Grill Brazilian steakhouse, a liquor store, and a Hooter’s. The Old Spaghetti Factory is next-door to The Melting Pot.
Directly across the street from The Melting Pot is an AT&T building (15-stories, not the 33-story skycraper/Emporis Skyscraper info) located at 185 2nd Avenue N in Nashville. The building, also known as AT&T’s Nashville Main Central Office provides service to all Tennessee State Government offices, and is a 15-story building. The 15-story building is a mostly windowless building that appears to be a building that might contain communications operating equipment (a telephone exchange/central office site). The building is home to the 2nd Avenue Art Wall that features female abstract artists in Nashville.
The 33-story AT&T Building (Emporis Skyscraper info) is located about 440 feet south-southeast of the ground zero RV blast location. The parking garage displayed in the image captured by the security camera is located between ground zero and the AT&T Building.
Speaking in the press conference in order of appearance were …
Don Aaron
Public Affairs Manager, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
Police Chief John Drake, Metro Nashville Police Department
Don Cochran Middle District of Tennessee
Cochran is an American attorney and academic who currently serves as the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Matt Foster, Special Agent FBI Nashville Office
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Mickey French, ATF
Special Agent in Charge at ATF
Nashville Fire Department Director Chief William Swann
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See also …
Emporis | AT&T Building (Nashville/33-story)