Ed note–the news coming out was that this was originally thought to have NOT been a bomb, but rather a mechanical failure at a building next door that sounded like an explosion. We now know why, since the suspect in it is one Israel Fisher, Jewish. Had anyone of the Islamic or Christian persuasion been involved in this their religious leanings would have been THE story and we would have heard about it for weeks on end.
LOS ANGELES — Local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Saturday said they were looking for a suspect in connection with an explosion earlier in the week near a Santa Monica synagogue.
Police initially attributed the blast, which occurred outside the Chabad House at 6:45 a.m. Thursday, to an industrial incident involving cement and other materials. The explosion sent a pipe encased in concrete into the roof of a building near the synagogue.
After an investigation by bomb technicians and detectives, investigators determined the explosion was the result of a “deliberately constructed” device that they have linked to transient named Ron Hirsch, according to a joint statement from the Santa Monica Police Department and the FBI.
Police are now seeking Mr. Hirsch, a heavyset white male they described as “extremely dangerous”, on state charges of possession of a destructive device and other unrelated charges. They released photograph of a man they said was Mr. Hirsh.
Mr. Hirsch, 60, is also known as Israel Fisher and has been known to frequent synagogues and Jewish community centers seeking charity, according to the statement. The motive for his attack is still unknown.
The joint investigation is on-going and is being handled by the Santa Monica Police, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and other authorities.
The FBI didn’t return calls seeking further comment.
