Suspect detained after improvised bomb injures two in explosion at California courthouse

Two people were injured Wednesday when a man tossed a homemade explosive device toward a courtroom at a Santa Maria, California, courthouse used by the Superior Court of California.

A suspect was immediately detained, and the injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

The explosion occurred sometime before 8:48 a.m. local time, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Raquel Zick posted on X.

She said the suspect is an adult male.

Superior Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker told local news site Noozhawk that the suspect was inside the courthouse when he threw a bag toward the courtroom used for arraignments.

Witness Shane Mellon told San Luis Obispo, California, NBC affiliate KSBY-TV that he heard a “loud bang” and saw what appeared to be a burning sweater, along with a screaming person being detained by at least four people.

The courthouse was closed for the rest of the day with all scheduled appearances and hearings canceled, per the Superior Court website. Multiple nearby Santa Maria government offices were also closed for the rest of Wednesday, city officials posted on X.