explosion in new york, bomb blast in new york

At least 25 persons were injured on Saturday night in an explosion in New York city, police said.

Officials were still trying to assess what caused explosion in the city’s Chelsea neighbourhood at around 9 p.m., fire department sources said.

Preliminary investigation showed that the explosion was caused by an explosive device in or near a dumpster, a law enforcement source told CNN, adding that this could not be immediately confirmed.

Some social media users said the sound of the explosion was heard as far away as Hoboken, New Jersey, across the Hudson river from Chelsea.

The explosion comes just hours after a pipe bomb exploded in a New Jersey town, shortly before thousands of runners were to participate in a charity race nearby.

No injuries were reported in the New Jersey blast.