An explosion is being reported at a courthouse in Santa Maria, California. The Sheriff’s department is warning people to stay away because the scene has not been deemed safe:
Santa Maria Courthouse: report of an explosion. Please avoid the area. Scene has not been deemed safe. More info to follow.
— PIO Raquel Zick (@SBSOPIO) September 25, 2024
According to KSBY news, the explosion may have been intentional and caused from someone with a bookbag:
The Santa Maria courthouse is closed Wednesday morning due to a reported explosion, officials say.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, the area had not been deemed safe as of 9:25 a.m. and people were being told to avoid the area.
A witness on scene told KSBY someone walked into the courthouse and threw a backpack at security, causing an explosion.
The witness says security then detained the person.
Officials have not confirmed whether there were any injuries.
There are other reports that this was a bomb:
NOOZHAWK – Law enforcement and other emergency personnel converged on the Santa Maria Superior Court complex Wednesday morning after a report that someone threw a bomb in a courthouse building.
However, a witness told Noozhawk no one was hurt.
A suspect was in custody as of 9 a.m. and was seen being transferred from the back of a Santa Maria Police car to a Sheriff’s Office car.
The suspect was inside the court building and threw a bag in front of Department 9, which is the arraignment courtroom, Superior Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker told Noozhawk.
Whatever was in the bag exploded, he said.
The incident was reported at 8:34 a.m.
: Here’s a more specific account of what happened:
At approximately 8:35 a.m., a man opened the door to Department 9 and began screaming that the FDA is poisoning 900,000 people every year, sources said. He then threw a suspected bomb into the courtroom and ran.
The device ignited and smoke billowed out from the open door. People were running and screaming, “It’s a bomb!”
Law enforcement from multiple agencies took the man into custody and dragged him away, according to attorney Bill Ausman who was in the courthouse.
We’ll have more on this when we get it…
