Los Angeles News
Pipe Bomb At Jack In The Box
By Robert Meyers
Dec 12, 2012 - 12:47:30 PM

LOS ANGELES—A self-service news stand outside of a Jack n’ the Box on the corner of Overland Ave and Venice Boulevard was destroyed by an improvised explosive device early Wednesday morning at approximately 6:30 a.m.

News Racks out side the Jack n' the Box on the 10700 block of Venice Blvd. destroyed by pipe bomb (Credit: Robert L. Meyers, Canyon News)

Jack n’ the Box employee Leonel Mateo was just clocking into his morning shift at the popular fast food restaurant when the device exploded. He spoke to Canyon News about the incident.

“It sounded like a loud explosion,” said Mateo, “the first thing I thought was maybe a car exploded, the first thing I did was look into the street and I saw smoke coming out of the newspaper stand.  I was puzzled; how would that blow up?”

Authorities describe the device as a ceramic pipe bomb and are currently investigating who may have placed the device and whether it was meant to target someone in particular. 

Damage caused by the blast was limited to the news rack.  There were no reported injuries.