Emergency services arrived at the scene near Second Avenue and Commerce Street at about 6:45 a.m. local time (12:45 GMT) and attempted to put out the fire, the publication said. The Nashville Fire Department later confirmed that a bomb squad was dispatched to the scene of explosion, while local police announced that they have opened an investigation into the incident and will be conducting it with help from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere told reporters that President Donald Trump has been informed about the explosion in Nashville and that POTUS is being kept up-to-date on the incident.
Metro police said the explosion that rocked the city and damaged several buildings was linked to a parked vehicle and added that they believe it was "an intentional act". Law enforcement said they were responding to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked outside the offices of AT&T early in the morning when the explosion took place while the police were already en route to the site. The Tennessean newspaper reported, citing investigators, that an RV might have been involved in the blast.
The local fire department has asked residents to avoid the area in the vicinity of the blast.