Nashville Bomber May Have Died In Explosion; Feds Raid Suspect's House
Update (2250 ET): Local news WSMV News4 Nashville is reporting "FBI agents spent the days at another location today besides searching the home of Anthony Warner, pursuing tips that he was paranoid about 5g spying on Americans."
Breaking: @WSMV Investigates has confirmed FBI agents spent the days at another location today besides searching the home of Anthony Warner, pursuing tips that he was paranoid about 5g spying on Americans. The latest coming up tonight at 10:00 on @WSMV pic.twitter.com/coUgdUt2cU
— Jeremy Finley (@JFinleyreports) December 27, 2020
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Update (1952 ET): CBS News is reporting Metro Nashville Police's latest theory is that the suspect may have perished in the explosion.
CBS' Senior Investigative Correspondent Catherine Herridge said DNA tests are underway on the remains found at the bombing scene in Downtown Nashville.
#Nashville Law enforcement sources tell @CBSNews leading theory is suspect may have been killed in Nashville explosion. DNA tests on remains found at scene are being conducted to determine if they belong to suspect or someone else + Fed agents searching home person of interest.
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) December 26, 2020
Earlier today, CBS reported, "Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, is the person of interest."
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Update (1510 ET): Local news Fox17 reports the FBI is investigating a bombing lead "at a home located on the 100 block of Bakertown Road in Antioch."
Photos from the scene show FBI agents and Metro Nashville Police outside a home with an armored vehicle.
Inspeccionan casa del sospechoso de Nashville. pic.twitter.com/SXK2PzesUH
— Marcial Cuquerella 🤙 (@cuquemar) December 26, 2020
More reporters are gathering at the scene.
HAPPENING NOW: Federal investigators searching residence on Bakertown Road in Antioch associated with “person of interest” in downtown Nashville bombing, law enforcement tells @AP. @chelseabeimfohr is on the scene of that search gathering details. pic.twitter.com/YMZSxBHjqN
— Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowWKRN) December 26, 2020
Law enforcement officials tell NBC News, the home of a 63-year-old man is being searched by federal agents.
In a press conference this afternoon, Special Agent in Charge Doug Korneski said that "several individuals" had caught their attention.
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Update (1416 ET): While authorities won't confirm any suspect names connected with the Downtown Nashville RV bombing, earlier, CBS reported, "Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, is the person of interest."
CBS' David Begnaud tweeted moments ago that "federal agents are at Warner's address in the Nashville area, right now."
Federal agents are at Warner’s address in the Nashville area, right now.
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) December 26, 2020
Begnaud also said the "blast caused considerable damage to AT&T, which apparently is a communication switch hub, knocking out internet & cell phone service throughout a wide area from Nashville to Alabama."
He noted that "investigators believe the explosion was an intentional act. They are speculating that human life was not the prime target as the explosion occurred on a Christmas morning."
"One theory investigators are looking at, regarding the Nashville Christmas Day explosion, is the possibility that AT&T may have been the target or some other building or infrastructure in the area of the explosion," Begnaud said.
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Update (1412 ET): Authorities in Nashville provide updates to reporters about the Friday morning explosion in Downtown Nashville.
The FBI Memphis Field Office has said over "500 tips and leads" are being analyzed.
At the moment, authorities won't confirm any suspect names.
Watch live below:
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Update (1353 ET): CBS News' Jeff Pegues has learned the name of a person of interest connected to the Friday morning explosion in Downtown Nashville. Multiple sources tell him that "Anthony Quinn Warner, a Nashville area resident, had a similar make and model RV."
...#exclusive @CBSNews has learned the name of a person of interest tied to the explosion that rocked #Nashville on #Christmas Day. Multiple sources tell us that Anthony Quinn Warner, a Nashville area resident, had a similar make and model RV.
— Jeff Pegues (@jeffpeguescbs) December 26, 2020
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Update (1315 ET): The FBI Memphis Field Office has tweeted a press conference will take place around 1:00 PM CST regarding the Friday morning explosion in Downtown Nashville.
A press conference will take place at approximately 1:00pm CST at 2nd Ave S & Korean Veterans Blvd regarding the explosion in downtown Nashville on Friday.
— FBI Memphis (@FBIMemphis) December 26, 2020
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CBS News' Jeff Pegues has learned that the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department "has a person of interest or persons of interest in connection" with the Christmas morning explosion that rocked Downtown Nashville.
...@CBSNews #EXCLUSIVE
— Jeff Pegues (@jeffpeguescbs) December 26, 2020
CBS News has learned that #police have a person of interest or persons of interest in connection with the #explosion that rocked #Nashville on #ChristmasDay.
More from CBS
CBS News has learned that police have identified and are investigating a person or people of interest in connection to the Christmas Day explosion in Nashville. The AT&T Building may have been the target. https://t.co/dDQNVw9LTc pic.twitter.com/shrr1Vwxnb
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 26, 2020
Nashville Police released a photo Friday afternoon of the recreational vehicle involved in the bombing.
The recreational vehicle was eventually parked outside an AT&T transmission building before it exploded.
Here's an unconfirmed video of what appears to be the massive explosion.
On Saturday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee requested an emergency declaration from President Trump after the explosion devastated an entire city block.
"The severity and magnitude of the current situation are such that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments," said Lee in a statement.
Lee toured the incident area, which resembled a warzone. He called damage "shocking" and a "miracle" that no one was killed.
Here's Lee's full emergency declaration request that was sent to the president.
This morning, the Federal Aviation Administration classified airspace over Nashville as "National Defense Airspace."