Headline Archives

05/05/08 (updated)

Early Sunday morning, a suspected pipe bomb exploded at the entrance of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse at 940 Front Street in San Diego, California. The explosion shattered a glass door, damaged the lobby, and punched a hole in a building window across the street. No one was injured.

The city fire department Metro Arson Strike Team responded at approximately 1:40 a.m. After quickly determining that an explosion had taken place, it notified the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego, which is conducting a vigorous investigtion. The crime scene was secured and turned over to the FBI's Evidence Response Team for processing and forensic evidence recovery. No arrests have been made.

Agents investigate the damage to the courthouse (left) and prepare to sweep for evidence (right)

San Diego Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter commented, "Incidents of this nature are very serious to the safety of the public. The FBI is dedicating many Joint Terrorism Task Force resources to this investigation, and they are working diligently to identify the individual(s) responsible.  Those who choose to leave their mark on public buildings and put the public's safety in jeopardy will be brought to justice."

Also responding to the incident were the San Diego Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; Harbor Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Federal Protective Services.

If you have any information concerning the incident, please contact the San Diego Joint Terrorism Task Force at (858) 565-1255 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS.

For more information:
- Press Release 

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