Harrowing footage shows the aftermath of Christmas day bomb blast in Nashville - with victims screaming for help in street filled with fire and debris - as police say three people were injured in explosion
Video filmed in the aftermath of Friday's massive bomb blast in Downtown Nashville shows victims screaming for help and the street littered with fire and debris.
The distressing footage was captured by country music singer Buck McCoy just seconds after the explosion occurred on Second Avenue at 6.40 am.
The clip begins with the singer standing in the ground floor of a hollowed-out shop, which has had its windows blown in by the blast.
He then makes his way outside as police sirens wail in the early morning.
The street is strewn in rubble as several victims scream for help up. Several vehicles are seen set on fire while shocked bystanders watch on, seemingly too stunned to move.
Video filmed in the aftermath of Friday's massive bomb blast in Downtown Nashville shows victims screaming for help and the street littered with fire and debris
Around 45 seconds into McCoy's video a large bang can be heard - prompting witnesses to think it could have been a second explosion,.
'Oh, s**t!' the singer says, as he and others moved back onto the sidewalk for cover.
The star later took to Facebook to tell fans it was a Christmas miracle that he was still alive and uninjured by the blast.
The Christmas Day explosion has been described as 'intentional' by police.
Buck McCoy took to Facebook to tell fans it was a Christmas miracle that he was still alive and uninjured by the blast
McCoy filmed the inside of this bar, which was filled with rubble and had its windows blown in by the blast
At around 6 am on Friday morning police received a call saying that shots had been fired in the Downtown area.
They got to the scene but saw no evidence of a shooting.
Instead, they 'encountered' what police are calling a suspicious vehicle, and called the bomb squad.
They were on their way when the blast happened.
Three people have been taken to the hospital for non-serious injuries but miraculously, no one was seriously hurt.
A police officer who was nearby at the time was knocked over by the blast and has lost his hearing.
Emergency personnel work near the scene of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25, 2020
This is what is left of Second Avenue in downtown Nashville after the explosion on Friday morning. Police have not yet identified a suspect
This was the scene immediately after the explosion on Friday morning in downtown Nashville
At a press conference shortly before 10am, police spokesman Don Aaron said it was an 'intentional act' but he did not give any information about potential suspects or motives.
Mayor John Cooper said after surveying the scene that it 'looks like a bomb went off'.
The area has now been sealed off while police comb the area.
'The explosion was significant as you can see from the street. The police department, it's partners, the FBI and ATF are conducting a large scale investigation. We do believe the explosion was an intentional act,' Aaron said.
In a later update, he said: 'A number of our police dogs have been called and are searching the area.
'These are explosive detection dogs to make sure there are no secondary devices, out of an abundance of caution.
A law enforcement member walks past damage from an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25, 2020
A K-9 team works in the area of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard early Christmas morning
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