A backpack containing as many as five exposive devices has been blown up in the US city of Elizabeth, New Jersey.

A bomb squad robot tried to disable one of the devices, but it cut into one of the wires, causing the blast.

#BREAKING video shows moment bomb robot accidentally detonated device found Elizabeth NJ train station. PIX11News pic.twitter.com/xfO97F2ebm— Anthony DiLorenzo (@ADiLorenzoTV) September 19, 2016


The backpack was found thrown in a rubbish bin near a train station and a bar.

It was not clear if Elizabeth had been specifically targeted.

“I have now since been informed that there were multiple devices inside that backpack,” said Chris Bollwage, Mayor of Elizabeth. “One of those devices was being cut in order to disarm it and as you all heard the explosion occurred.”

Elizabeth is is about 24 kilometers from the New York borough of Manhattan where a powerful explosion rocked the Chelsea neighbourhood on Saturday night.

At least 29 people were wounded in the blast which occured after a pressure cooker bomb packed with shrapnel detonated.

A similar, unexploded device was found a few blocks away later the same night.