Explosion Destroys Queens Home, Injures Eight NYPD Officers Responding to Gas and Knife Incident

An early morning explosion leveled a house in Queens on Thursday, injuring eight New York City police officers who were responding to a report of a man armed with a knife and the smell of gas, police said.

According to the New York Police Department, officers arrived at the small home before 3 a.m. after a man, described as intoxicated and carrying a knife along with two garbage bags containing canisters of an unknown substance, forced entry into a basement apartment where his wife, daughter, and two grandchildren were present. The family members managed to escape the building before officers arrived.

Police body camera footage shows officers approaching the house when a powerful blast erupted, blowing out windows and sending officers flying across the yard. Eight officers sustained minor injuries, including burns and at least one head laceration, and were treated at a hospital. Several people from inside the home were also hospitalized, but all occupants have been accounted for, police said.

The man who prompted the initial emergency call remains unaccounted for, according to Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh. The explosion caused the home to collapse and damaged neighboring properties. Authorities continue to investigate the incident and the contents of the canisters found at the scene.