Several people are hurt and a courthouse in Santa Maria, California, in the US, is closed following “a bomb explosion” overnight, officials say.
A suspect has been detained and is being interviewed, and the scene continues to be active after the explosion “from an intentionally set improvised explosive device,” said Santa Barbara County Sheriff spokesperson Raquel Zick in a social media post.
Five patients are being treated at Marian Regional Medical Center, according to hospital spokesperson Sandy Doucette.
“Of these, three are in fair condition, while two are in good condition. We are providing them with the highest level of care and support,” she told CNN.
Additional details about the incident were not immediately available and a motive has not been determined.
Roads surrounding the courthouse are closed and the public is being urged to avoid the area, Zick said.
In addition to the Santa Barbara County Superior Courthouse in Santa Maria, Santa Maria City Hall, the public library and other city offices in the area closed for the rest of the day, as police investigate “a bomb explosion,” city spokesperson Mark van de Kamp said.
Located in California’s Central Coast, Santa Maria is about 160 miles (260km) north of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which provides courthouse security throughout LA County, said in a social media post that they are on “heightened alert and providing extra patrols in and around our courts” but are not aware of any credible threats.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, celebrity and sport via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
