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FBI Evidence Response Team members work at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (FBI)
Taniesa L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | National News (Fox News)
BALTIMORE, MD. - The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, a federal source confirmed to Fox News.
The probe, first reported by the Washington Post, centers on the 985-foot container ship, the Dali, looking at any violations of federal maritime law, with a focus on whether ship personnel may have been aware of any onboard technical or operational issues before the ship left the Port of Baltimore, according the source with knowledge of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are looking into the events leading up to the moment the ship lost power before slamming into one of the bridge’s support pillars, the Post reported, citing two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the FBI confirmed the bureau "is present aboard the cargo ship Dali conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity."
"There is no other public information available, and we will have no further comment," it added.
FBI ERT uses a sector scan sonar to locate vehicles underwater at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (FBI)
"My office generally will not confirm the existence of or otherwise comment about investigations," Erek L. Barron, the U.S. Attorney for Maryland, said in a statement to the Post. "However, the public should know, whether it’s gun violence, civil rights abuse, financial fraud, or any other threat to public safety or property, we will seek accountability for anyone who may be responsible."
This satellite image shows the bow of the container ship Dali remaining stuck underneath sections of the fallen Francis Scott Key Bridge, while salvage crews and barges with cranes continue removing debris and hundreds of shipping containers still on board the vessel, in Baltimore on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies via AP)
The criminal investigation is separate from the one being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of the collapse and evaluate safety measures.
President Biden and Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore have pledged to hold the appropriate parties responsible.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024. (Tasos Katopodis)
The White House quickly ruled out any nefarious action or terror after the March 26 collapse. Six construction crew members died, while two others survived.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.