Details are still hazy, but it seems a homemade explosive device went off sometime this morning at the Mexican Consulate in New York City. Windows were shattered and many Mexicans who lined up awaiting visas are left to crowd on the sidewalk, as the stretch of 39th Street between Madison and 5th Avenues has been closed off so that police can investigate further.

UPDATE [1:15pm]: The device, which was initially thought to be a homemade grenade although investigators are still not certain, exploded outside the building housing the consulate sometime around 3:30 this morning. No injuries are reported. Police and the NYPD’s Arson Explosive Unit and Bomb Squad were notified of the event this morning when consulate employers arrived for work to find scattered debris and broken glass inside.

The consulate happens to be right in our backyard, so we were able to get reactions from several people crowded onto the sidewalk. Many individuals and families, some with young children, are huddled onto the sidewalk, without much information as to how long they’ll have to wait or what, exactly, is happening beyond the police tape.

“They told those Mexicans to move out of the street. They’re always lined up there,” offered one particularly observant passerby.

UPDATE [1:30pm]: A video report of the incident shot by Channel 2 (WCBS) describes what happened in detail.

UPDATE [1:45 PM]: Police confirmed that two grenade-like devices were found and guess that they were thrown into the rear of the building from the street by someone on a bicycle. They have also confirmed that no one was injured. However, there are no leads on who could be behind the attacks or what motivated it.

We feel for these Mexicans. It’s cold, it’s rainy, they had to wait in line for hours and wade through paperwork to get their visas - and now this? They better get approved.

UPDATE [5:00pm]: The Mexican Consul General, Ramon Xilotl, reported that the early morning attack was captured on the Consulate’s surveillance video cameras.

“They showed the explosives but nobody is seen in the camera. But there is a witness that saw the individual,” he said. “I condemn the attack.”

No shit Ramon. Also, the Consulate has been closed until further noticed. Many who desperately needed to get their passport validated were left in distraught:

I want to validate my passport so I can go and visit my mother because she’s very sick in the hospital,” said Horalia Moran.

We hope that the Consulate is up and running normally as soon as possible. Or at least by the time we have to get our own papers certified.

Device Explodes At Mexican Consulate [WCBSTV]