Federal and local authorities are investigating the vandalism and an explosion that occurred Saturday night in a Los Angeles County church that had recently been the subject of controversy over its language against the LGBTQ community and other minority groups.
Seconds NBC’s Los Angeles affiliate station, KNBC, the El Monte police department and FBI officials responded overnight to reports of an IED attack on First Works Baptist Church.
Chief of Police David Reynoso said Saturday later that a “makeshift explosive device” was believed to be the source of the blast and that authorities had also found obscenities and the words “come out” spray-painted on the front of the church, seconds The New York Times.
Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said authorities have not yet arrested anyone in connection with the blast and that officials have not yet determined any motive.
“We have not ruled out anything,” he added, the Times reported.
KNBC added that no injuries were reported in the blast.
The local FBI office make a call on Twitter for public assistance in identifying those responsible for the attack, adding a contact number for people to send advice with any relevant information.
The FBI responded overnight with @elmontepolice & @LASDHQ to #IED attack on First Works Baptist Church in El Monte, California. Bomb Techs and the FBI testing team continue to process the scene. If you have any advice about the person in charge, call 3104776565. #SeekingInfo pic.twitter.com/LobrjbrZtx
– FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) January 23, 2021
According to the Times, First Works pastor Bruce Mejia reported to police about two weeks ago that he had received a fire threat on social media.
The church has been the subject of criticism in the community and a request calling on the mayor of El Monte to recognize the church as a hate group and “get them out of our city,” he has received more than 15,000 signatures.
First Works is part of the New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement, an international network of churches that Southern Poverty Law Center noted contains people who have requested the execution of LGBTQ people.
In 2019, Meija was part of the list of speakers at a “Make America Straight Again” conference in Orlando, Florida, two days after the third anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre.
According to the Times, Meijia has also claimed that the Black Lives Matter movement has an “evil agenda” and has characterized women as intrinsically “weak”.
Local LGBTQ rights organization Keep El Monte Friendly initially planned a protest at the church on Saturday morning, but later canceled the event in response to the bombing.
“We are in deep shock and hope that no one was injured during this tragedy,” the group wrote in a statement on Instagram. “Our movement was intended to shed light and awareness on the hateful rhetoric that this group teaches. We understand that what they preach can upset people. However, we would never promote, encourage or tolerate violence or harm.” .
Reynoso added on Saturday, “in no way can we say that anyone related to the demonstrations is involved or responsible for this crime.”