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New York man suffers severe injury in fireworks explosion in Central Park

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<p>An explosion in New York City's Central Park left a man severely injured.</p><p>Eighteen-year-old Connor Golden from Fairfax, Virginia, was walking with <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-critically-injured-explosion-yorks-central-park/story?id=40314758" target="_blank">two of his friends</a> not far from the Central Park Zoo when the explosion occurred. </p><p>A New York City Fire Department spokesperson said Golden was taken to a hospital for "possible amputation."</p><p>According to witnesses, Golden <a href="http://abc7ny.com/news/man-severely-injured-in-explosion-in-central-park/1411833/" target="_blank">stepped on something</a> that blew up, severing one of his feet. </p><p>"I have no idea what it was. It sounded like a cannon. So that's why I thought it was like a Fourth of July thing," one witness <a href="http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/07/03/explosion-central-park-nr.cnn" target="_blank">told CNN</a>.</p><p>Police say they aren't sure what caused the explosion, but they speculate that it <a href="http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2016/07/3/man-hospitalized-after-central-park-explosion--police-investigating.html" target="_blank">could be fireworks</a> since Monday is the Fourth of July. </p><p><i>This video includes images from Getty Images and clips from </i><a href="http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2016/07/3/man-hospitalized-after-central-park-explosion--police-investigating.html" target="_blank"><i>NY1</i></a><i>, </i><a href="http://abc7ny.com/news/man-severely-injured-in-explosion-in-central-park/1411833/" target="_blank"><i>WABC</i></a><i> and </i><a href="http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/07/03/explosion-central-park-nr.cnn" target="_blank"><i>CNN</i></a><i>.</i></p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/gun-rights-activists-say-they-won-t-follow-california-s-new-laws/">Gun Rights Activists Say They Won't Follow California's New Laws</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/tennessee-mother-charged-with-the-murders-of-4-children/">Tennessee Mother Charged With The Murders Of 4 Children</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/garrison-keillor-steps-down-as-host-of-a-prairie-home-companion/">Garrison Keillor Steps Down As Host Of 'A Prairie Home Companion'</a></li></ul>
Posted at 1:24 PM, Jul 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-03 17:53:20-04

Police officials believe a homemade firework likely caused a blast in New York City's Central Park that seriously injured a man who stepped on it.

 

The commanding officer of the New York Police Department's bomb squad tells reporters Sunday there's no indication it was made to harm people.

Mark Torre likened the explosive to an experiment that an enthusiast with a rudimentary understanding of chemistry could build from household materials.

Investigators don't believe the injured 19-year-old or his friends took part in constructing the explosive. They're asking anyone with information to come forward.

Officials say the injured man is undergoing surgery on his left foot at a hospital. He's in stable condition.

They say police dogs are canvassing the park for possible explosives.

The NYPD's bomb squad and police were investigating the circumstances of the explosion. Mayor Bill de Blasio sent out a tweet reminding people to stay safe around fireworks.

"Fireworks are fun — but let's leave them to the professionals," the mayor tweeted.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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