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Los Angeles explosion: 17 injured after bomb truck carrying illegal fireworks explodes
[FoxNews] An explosion rocked Los Angeles on Wednesday, injuring at least 17 people -- including nine LAPD officers -- after a bomb squad attempted to detonate improvised explosive devices that were seized at a home along with a cache of illegal fireworks.In a news conference late Wednesday, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said authorities responded to the home, where they found thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks, as well as improvised explosive devices, described as "more unstable." A suspect was arrested in connection to the items seized at the home, police said. The LAPD bomb squad transferred the improvised devices into a containment vehicle, and detonated them, believing it would contain the blast, which overturned a car and shattered windows in the neighborhood, Moore said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Earlier, the LAPD tweeted that bomb squad officers were in the process of seizing over 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks in the area at the time of the blast. "Some of the fireworks were being stored in our Bomb Squad trailer as a precautionary measure," the LAPD wrote. Of the 17 people injured, 16 were taken to the hospital – with one declining transport, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The LAFD wrote that nine LAPD officers and one Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agent sustained minor injuries. At least seven people were also hurt, including three who had moderate injuries. The department added that several homes and a building were impacted by the blast. FOX 11 of Los Angeles reported that investigators and bomb squad officials responded to the home earlier in the day after receiving a tip from a community member. A forklift was seen carrying dozens of boxes out of the house, images showed. The suspect, identified as Arturo Cejas III, was arrested on suspicion of possessing fireworks and destructive devices, as well as suspicion of child endangerment – because two children were found at the home, police said, according to Los Angeles's KABC-TV. Posted by: Skidmark 2021-07-01 |
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