A loud explosion in the Navy Yard neighborhood in Southeast Washington, D.C. Sunday night that rattled windows, set off car alarms and was heard and felt nearly two miles away was reportedly blamed by responding firemen on a large illegal firework device.
Screen image via Twitter/Suzanne Youngblood Lane.
Photos taken at the scene show a modest sized crater at the Canal Park ice skating rink with a nearby glass barrier blown out. No injuries were reported, but nerves were shaken throughout much of the area.
The first eyewitness report was of car alarms going off and people running away after an explosion was heard, “Explosion in navy yard?…Car alarms going off. Saw a few people running away from canal park towards New Jersey Ave”
Car alarms going off. Saw a few people running away from canal park towards New Jersey Ave
— Jeffrey Pincus (@jpincus14) January 2, 2023
Video taken moments after the explosion shows smoke rising and car alarms sounding.
— SJB (@DCSloth) January 2, 2023
Smoke from the explosion in Navy Yard. Praying everyone is ok! https://t.co/QfMngApaGt pic.twitter.com/VhysWtq3n9
— Suzanne Youngblood Lane (@SuzYoungblood) January 2, 2023
Scene of explosion in Navy Yard DC. Happened in Wiseguys Pizza building on 2nd and M. Boom shook my apartment a few blocks away and set off lots of alarms. Hope everyone in the area is ok. @PoPville pic.twitter.com/g1UuKZItrm
— Charlie Feinerman (@CharlieFein) January 2, 2023
Photos from the scene show damage seemingly incongruous with the loudness of the explosion.
That loud explosion heard and felt for many blocks in and beyond the Navy Yard neighborhood was something that left a hole in the ice and broken glass at the Canal Park ice rink. Police just taped off the area. pic.twitter.com/ixHTa988I7
— Maureen Cohen Harrington (@VeganSkaterDC) January 2, 2023
A big firecracker according to firemen:
The culprit is what firefighters on the scene concluded was, in their professional opinion, “a big fuckin firecracker.” pic.twitter.com/D3XCWpsf1d
— Jerry Christmas 🎅🏼🎄 (@JerryDunleavy) January 2, 2023
The explosion in Navy Yard was a bomb someone threw onto the ice at Canal Park. Shattered a pane of glass and left a big hole in the ice. No one was hurt. @PoPville @theHillisHome pic.twitter.com/6ozWY5S7vK
— NavyYardParking (@NavyYardParking) January 2, 2023
D.C. Fire and EMS reported, “Box Alarm 3rd & L St SE for explosion heard and possible structure fire. Units on scene at skating rink where there is a haze and broken glass. No sign of fire. Investigating further.”
Box Alarm 3rd & L St SE for explosion heard and possible structure fire. Units on scene at skating rink where there is a haze and broken glass. No sign of fire. Investigating further. #DCsBravest
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) January 2, 2023
The explosion was loud enough to be heard and felt across DC.
Yeah, I heard that explosion in Kingman Park. Shook my house. #DC @theHillisHome @popville
— Phil Yabut (@philliefan_99) January 2, 2023
I heard what sounded like an explosion and I’m all the way over in SE DC across the river. What was that?!
— ✨Caitlin✨ 🏒#ALLCAPS🦅 (@schiavonihockey) January 2, 2023
Appears there was some sort of explosion just now,possibly in the Navy Yard/Canal Park area. Heard it loud and clear way over in Hill East/Kingman Park. Yikes. Hope people are OK.
— Bryan Rodda (@bryan_in_dc) January 2, 2023
huge explosion in navy yard dc were huddled in our basement right now
— Vanessa Burden 👋🏽 (@vanessaburden_) January 2, 2023
Explosion likely originating in SE DC was heard all the way over in Capitol Hill. Per @dcfireems: “Units on scene at skating rink where there is a haze and broken glass.”
— Douglas Blair (@DouglasKBlair) January 2, 2023
“Explosion in Navy Yard area. Unclear cause. My house is almost 2 miles from there and I heard this loud and clear — even felt some shockwave. Must have been terrifying at the scene.”
Explosion in Navy Yard area. Unclear cause. My house is almost 2 miles from there and I heard this loud and clear — even felt some shockwave. Must have been terrifying at the scene. https://t.co/IgoFNut1Qy
— Bryan Rodda (@bryan_in_dc) January 2, 2023
“That loud explosion heard and felt for many blocks in and beyond the Navy Yard neighborhood was something that left a hole in the ice and broken glass at the Canal Park ice rink. Police just taped off the area.”
That loud explosion heard and felt for many blocks in and beyond the Navy Yard neighborhood was something that left a hole in the ice and broken glass at the Canal Park ice rink. Police just taped off the area. pic.twitter.com/ixHTa988I7
— Maureen Cohen Harrington (@VeganSkaterDC) January 2, 2023
Good question. “At what point does a firecracker become a bomb?”
“At what point does a firecracker become a bomb?”
Shaking reportedly felt in Trinidad.
People seen fleeing from canal park.
Powerful explosion..frightening start to the New Year pic.twitter.com/mzXVIREQW2— Navy Yard Crime (@NavyYardCrime) January 2, 2023
Maybe the FBI was doing some field training for the next J6 pipe bomb event?
UPDATE: D.C. police statement: “Alert: MPD responded to a report of a loud explosion in the park in the 200 blk of M St SE. Officers have determined a large firework was thrown onto the ice rink and subsequently went off. No injuries have been reported. (1/2)…The firework damaged the ice and shattered a pane of safety glass on the edge of the rink. Officers are investigating the incident. Anyone with information or potential video of the incident is asked to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411. (2/2)”
The firework damaged the ice and shattered a pane of safety glass on the edge of the rink. Officers are investigating the incident. Anyone with information or potential video of the incident is asked to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411. (2/2)
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 2, 2023