Police would soon decide whether to provide extra security at federal courthouses in light of an explosion that damaged a federal courthouse in San Diego about 80 miles (128 kilometers) south of Los Angeles, authorities said on Monday.
The non-injury blast occurred about 1:40 a.m. local time on Sunday and may have been caused by a pipe bomb, said FBI officer April Langwell.
The explosion caused the postponement of Monday's scheduled court hearings and a warning to all FBI offices and federal courthouses in the country, Langwell said.
Los Angeles police don't yet have plans to provide extra security at federal courthouses in the city, but that could change, said Karen Smith of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Along with San Diego authorities, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating the explosion, which damaged the entrance and lobby to the courthouse and sent shrapnel flying.
No suspects have been arrested and the motive for the explosion remained unknown.
"It's too early to tell if it's terrorism-related," FBI spokesman Darrell Foxworth said. "It does not appear to be right now."
He said the explosion did not appear to be linked to any legal cases at the courthouse, either.
Investigators were looking at security camera tapes and interviewing guards who were on duty when the explosion occurred, he said.
No claims of responsibility have been received, Langwell said.
The bomb may have been timed to go off when no one was there, authorities said.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article