FBI agents search home of ‘person of interest’ over van explosion in Nashville

INVESTIGATORS have identified a person of interest in connection with the explosion that rocked the centre of Nashville on Christmas Day and are searching a house in the city’s suburbs, the FBI has said.

Officers raided a home in Antioch after receiving information relevant to the investigation, according to FBI special agent Jason Pack.

Another law enforcement official said investigators regard a person associated with the property as a person of interest over the explosion.

Earlier, investigators said they were looking at a number of individuals who may be connected to the blast, but have also found no additional explosive devices – indicating no active threat to the area.

Douglas Korneski, the special agent in charge of the FBI’S Memphis field office, said 250 agents, analysts and FBI staff are making progress in the search for the person or people responsible for planting a bomb in a campervan that exploded along a mostly deserted street. Three people were injured in the explosion.

He said: “It’s just going to take us some time.”

Separately, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency said tissue samples found at the scene were determined to be human remains.

The attack continues to wreak havoc on communications systems across the state.

Police emergency systems in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, as well as Nashville’s Covid-19 community hotline and a handful of hospital systems, remain out of service due to an AT&T central office being affected by the blast.

At least 41 buildings were damaged and power cuts and communication line failures even briefly grounded flights at the Nashville International Airport. Flights are now operating normally.

Law enforcement officials have said since shortly after the explosion occurred at around 6.30am they believe the blast was intentional. They have not talked publicly about a possible target or motive.