By The New York Times (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-25 18:32:45 | Updated at 2024-09-30 07:35:55
4 days ago
U.S.|2 Injured After Man Sets Off Explosive Device at California Courthouse
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/25/us/courthouse-explosion-california.html
Law enforcement arrested a man who they said detonated an explosive device at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday morning.
Sept. 25, 2024, 2:21 p.m. ET
Two people were injured on Wednesday morning after a man set off an explosive device in a courthouse in Santa Barbara County, Calif., according to the local authorities.
A man was detained after reports of an explosion at the Santa Maria Superior Court, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said on social media. The local news media reported that the man threw a bag into a courtroom, which exploded.
Two people had “non-life-threatening injuries,” the spokeswoman said.
The office had urged the public to avoid the area around the courthouse after the report of an explosion.
Law enforcement and other emergency responders arrived on Wednesday morning at the Santa Maria Superior Court and evacuated parts of the courthouse complex, according to local media.
Noozhawk, an outlet covering Santa Barbara news, reported that law enforcement had arrested the suspect around 9 a.m. local time, shortly after the explosion was reported.
“The suspect was inside the court building and threw a bag in front of Department 9, which is the arraignment courtroom,” Darrel Parker, the superior court executive officer, told the outlet.
“Whatever was in the bag exploded,” Mr. Parker said.
A message on the court’s website said that the Santa Maria campus was closed for the day and that all events on the calendar had been canceled.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
