Fear and anger: Social media erupts after Manhattan explosion
In the aftermath of the explosion which rocked Manhattan and injured 29 people on Saturday night, social media has been buzzing with posts of support and anger as investigations into the blast continues.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said investigators had ruled out a gas leak as the cause of the blast, but stopped short of calling it a bombing and declined to specify precisely what he believed may have triggered the explosion.
Read more:‘Intentional act’: At least 29 injured in improvised explosive device blast in Manhattan
Under the #PrayforNYC hashtag, social media sites were filled with messages of support for those in New York.
I'm so shocked to here about manhattan, Everyone stay safe. #PrayForNYC 🙏🏻🇺🇸
— Alex Phillips (@ItsAlexOkay_) September 18, 2016
everyday there's a new hashtag, when will it stop? i hope y'all stay safe 💜 #PrayForNYC
— lau talks boys 🌐 (@jxgglypxffirwin) September 18, 2016
#PrayForNYC 🇺🇸❤ pic.twitter.com/hMMM9Jy5CK
— A.S (@Albs2001) September 18, 2016
When will this ever stop💔 #PrayForNYC
— Harry's Legend (@HarryxMendArmy) September 18, 2016
However, many expressed anger that the attacks have not yet been labelled acts of terror.
We all know who was responsible for the #Chelsea bombing as well as the minessota stabbing at the mall. Accept it and deal with the problem.
— Deplorable 1TrueLib (@MrHurricane_) September 18, 2016
PrisonPlanet - Pressure cooker found with wires & mobile phone sticking out and written note.
— DeplorableWalt (@psycotria) September 18, 2016
Not terrorism?
Give me a break.#Chelsea
So someone can create a bomb, set it off in a public place, injuring innocent citizens...and NOT be a terrorist? How? #Chelsea#PrayForNYC
— ☽☼ⓚⓔⓔ☼☾ (@OMGkee) September 18, 2016
Quit writing "prayers 4 those" if u can't even say radical Islam !! #chelsea#StCloud#Trump not #Hillary#ZombieHillary#maga
— Terry Mazurkiewicz (@terrymaz12) September 18, 2016
While others were quick to assume it was an attack carried out by Muslims, despite no evidence to back up this claim.
@cloudsharrj my moneys on islam and you know it to, i'm sick of every terrorist act people saying dont blame islam #manhattan#fuckislam
— tommix (@T0MMlX) September 18, 2016
@ChrisJZullo We can point fingers at Muslims and Islam, because they are inevitably involved in #ChelseaNYC#Chelsea. It's common sense.
— Deplorable Valentina (@_RealValentina_) September 18, 2016
U CAN'T WIN WAR ON RADICAL ISLAM IF U DON'T EVEN THE HAVE GUTS 2 CALL IT BY ITS NAME.IDENYIFY PROBLEM-FIRST STEP TO PROBLEM SOLVING #Chelsea
— 70 News (@70NEWS1) September 18, 2016
Face the problem head on and admit the Islam is not compatible with the west. #NYCExplosion#Manhattan#Minnesota#NewYork
— Deplorable 1TrueLib (@MrHurricane_) September 18, 2016
Some attempted to dispel the accusations against Muslims.
Wait for the official statement and factual information to be published, then post your opinion. #Chelsea
— Stefan (@zashovski) September 18, 2016
@Home_Halfway if you automatically assume it wasn't radical Islam, YOU are the problem #Chelsea
— Deplorable Aaron (@hammerinheckman) September 18, 2016
remember that terrorism has no religion. please stop blaming islam since nobody knows who's really guilty #Manhattan
— marty,, (@cloudsharrj) September 18, 2016
Sad how ppl are blaming the #Chelsea bombing on Muslims💔 try to understand that 75%goodness+25%badness=our world. #TerrorismHasNoRiligion
— αвɒυℓяαнмαи (@aalhaddad_x) September 18, 2016
No evidence yet to say who did the #Manhattan. So quit blaming muslims or ISIS, sit your ass down and set down your gavels, judges!
— Red498 (@Red498CP) September 18, 2016
100% done w non-New Yorkers exploiting our tragedies to push a hateful agenda. I'm in #Chelsea now & no one here is calling for a Muslim ban
— Sejal Singh (@Sej_Singh) September 18, 2016
People also pointed to the similarities between the "secondary device" found four blocks away, consisting of a pressure cooker with wires attached to it, and that of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
EXCLUSIVE SCOOP: "Second device is a pressure cooker IED. Same style used in the Boston Marathon bombing." #Chelsea
— Ricky Vaughn (@Ricky_Vaughn99) September 18, 2016
Ugh… the bomb on W 27th street’s a pressure cooker bomb like the one in Boston. Instructions for those were in Inspire Magazine by Al Qaeda.
— Ryan Duff (@flyryan) September 18, 2016
Others used the explosion to score political points.
Bomb blast in Manhattan = win for Donald Trump. The White House just got interesting. Go Donald, go go go
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) September 18, 2016
@KTHopkins ... so you'll be hoping for more bomb blasts in Manhattan? Few corpses scattered round would be even better for Trump?
— Steve Moran (@steve_kiaora) September 18, 2016
People seriously injured and this ignorant, evil woman just sees it as a political opportunity. WTAF #Manhattanhttps://t.co/hWnr6TlcZ4
— Bertha Mason (@ThornfieldHall) September 18, 2016
Some pointed to the timing of the blast, linking it to US airstrikes in Syria on Saturday which killed members of the Syrian army.
@cloudsharrj Let me help you guys, how we divert the news from Syrian army bombing incident? We bomb our own people #Manhattan#issis#Syria
— Dr. Evil ® (@Dr_Evil) September 18, 2016
While you are throwing wild accusations around about #chelsea your government "regrets" acting like terrorists. https://t.co/hjyGg2iP3C
— :o (@MorrisseyEnda) September 18, 2016
How conveniently the world's attention shifts from #US air strike in #Syria to #ChelseaExplosion#Russia#SyrianArmy#Manhattan#UNSC
— Profile Name (@ProterozoicRock) September 18, 2016
