UPDATE: Explosion in Central Park injures one, “likely fireworks”

UPDATE (10:40 AM) (ABC News) – A man was severely injured in an explosion in New York’s Central Park today, but it was not yet clear what caused the blast, police said.

Three men were walking in an area of the park not far from the entrance to the Central Park Zoo when the explosion occurred, severing the foot of one of them, an New York Police Department spokesperson said.

The man was taken to Bellevue hospital with a “possible amputation,” a Fire Department of New York spokesperson said. The spokesperson would not speculate on what caused the explosion, but police said it was likely fireworks, given that Monday is the Fourth of July.

The NYPD bomb squad was on the scene, and a portion of the park was closed for the investigation, police said.

PREVIOUS UPDATE (10:20 AM) (AP) – Authorities say a man was seriously hurt in Central Park and people near the area reported hearing some kind of explosion.

Fire officials say it happened shortly before 11 a.m., inside the park at 68th Street and Fifth Avenue. The man suffered serious injuries, possibly an amputation, and was taken to the hospital.

A bomb squad was on the site. The police were investigating.

No other information is available.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE (10:00 AM) (ABC News) – ABC News is reporting a man was critically injured in an explosion in New York’s Central Park today, but it was not yet clear what caused the blast, police said.

According to ABC News the incident occurred not far from the Central Park zoo, the New York Police Department said.

ABC is reporting the man was taken to Bellevue hospital with a “possible amputation,” a Fire Department of New York spokesperson said. The spokesperson would not speculate on what caused the explosion.

We will continue to update this article with the latest developments.