Access will only be granted to buildings deemed safe by constructors, Metro Nashville Police Chief Chris Taylor said at a news conference Monday.
It may be several days before someone can enter other buildings on the street where the explosion took place, he said.
A recreational vehicle was parked on 2nd Avenue North, just outside an AT&T transmission building on Friday, when a message went to the people nearby to warn them to evacuate before the vehicle exploded, damaging more than 40 buildings and at least eight people were injured.
Although the extent of their injuries has not been disclosed, all patients have been discharged, TriStar Centennial Medical Center spokesman Jill Newham said Monday.
And while AT&T said most of the service to the area has been restored, residents say the photos they see of the rubble are overwhelming.
“I know those streets like the back of my hand. It’s my life. It’s my love. I’ve been there every day of the week for years, and I can’t even see what the store was or is or where (it’s almost. is really heartbreaking, ”Pete Gibson, the owner of Pride & Glory Tattoo on 2nd Avenue, told CNN.
“This year has been tough,” Gibson told CNN’s Natasha Chen. “Obviously it’s a bit dim compared to normal. But just when we get a little light at the end of the tunnel, it all goes away in two seconds.”
An explosion on a historic street
Several hours later, residents reported the sound of high-speed gunshots, and police responded on the historic street around 5:30 am
Then the vehicle began to emit an automated female voice warning that an explosion would occur in 15 minutes. The RV also aired Petula Clark’s 1964 hit “Downtown,” a song about how the hustle and bustle of downtown can alleviate the problems of a lonely one.
When the countdown ended, the message changed.
“If you can hear this message, evacuate now,” said the voice at about 6:30 am. “If you can hear this message, evacuate now.”
Then the camper exploded.
“I just saw the biggest flames I’ve ever seen, the biggest explosion,” Officer Amanda Topping said. “I just saw orange and … felt the heat, the wave.”
Since no one claimed responsibility and the intention seemed to be to avoid mass causalities, the authorities continued for the following days to search for the bomber’s identity.
Bomber identified
Warner’s father previously worked for AT&T, David Rausch, director of Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, confirmed Monday. He said investigators are looking into whether that may be relevant to the motive behind the bombing.
Warner from Antioch, Tennessee, had never been on the police radar before, said Rausch, the director of TBI.
FBI agent Doug Korneski said investigators interview people who knew Warner to discover a possible motive. There is no indication that anyone else was involved, he said.
“These answers will not come soon,” said Korneski. “While we may be able to answer some of those questions … none of those answers will ever be enough for those affected by this event.”
Rick Laude, Warner’s neighbor since 2010, told CNN on Monday that he had spoken to Warner four days before the bombing.
‘I said,’ Hey, Anthony, is Santa going to bring you a treat for Christmas? Laude said. “He said, ‘Yes, I’ll be more famous. I’ll be so famous that Nashville will never forget me.”
Laude said he thought Warner was referring to something good that happened.
“Let me be very clear, he and I were not friends,” he said. “You won’t find anyone in my neighborhood who claims to be his friend. He was just a legitimate hermit. ‘
Remains of the RV were recovered from the scene, and Tennessee Highway Patrol investigators were able to retrieve the vehicle identification number, authorities said Sunday. Korneski said the chassis number matched that of a vehicle registered with Warner.
A tip on the RV led law enforcement to Warner’s Bakertown Road home, a law enforcement official told CNN. Federal detectives were home Saturday, conducting “ court-authorized activities, ” FBI spokesman Jason Pack told CNN.
Investigators positively identified Warner by comparing DNA from the scene with that on gloves and a hat from a vehicle he owned, Rausch said Monday.
CNN’s Jamiel Lynch, Hollie Silverman, Eric Levenson, Amir Vera, Kay Jones and Natasha Chen contributed to this report.