Explosion shakes Imperioli's building

NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- A pipe bomb exploded outside a New York building owned by Michael Imperioli, the actor who played Christopher on the HBO mob drama “The Sopranos.�

Imperioli told the New York Daily News he was "baffled" by the 1 a.m. Tuesday blast, which caused no injuries but terrified residents, who were evacuated from the four-story building.

The explosion shook the building, smashed the window of a nearby minivan, sent a large puff of smoke into the sky and reverberated through the midtown neighborhood, the Daily News said.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the blast wasn't terrorism related but several streets were closed as police searched for other explosive devices.

"I don't know anything about this bomb in front of my theater," Imperioli said to the Daily News. "I'm completely baffled."

Police officials said they were unsure if the blast had any connection to Imperioli or his performance space, Studio Dante, on the first floor of the building.

Investigators said Imperioli had been engaged in a dispute with a former tenant but also told the newspaper the disagreement wasn't related to the explosion.

Imperioli said he wasn't aware of any conflicts with tenants or neighbors.