US immigration agency says van caught on fire due to mechanical issue amid online speculation

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said a van caught fire in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday after it "experienced mechanical issues" amid rampant online speculation that the vehicle was set ablaze in an attack.

"The Philadelphia Fire Department extinguished the flames after arriving on scene. There were no injuries due to the fast response from the fire department and the vehicle’s occupants," the agency said in response to a query from Anadolu. "The cause of the fire is unknown, but no foul play is suspected at this time.”

Video of the incident shared on social media appears to show the minivan engulfed in flames amid loud pops that prompt an ICE agent to seek cover in a nearby alley.

Multiple accounts on social media have been seeking to spread a narrative that the vehicle was torched by "leftists" or "left wing extremists," but that does not appear to be based in any verifiable fact.