Blasts Rock Bomb-Laden Car in West L.A. Building

Los Angeles police have determined that five separate bombs were in a stolen car that was rocked by explosions Monday in a garage underneath a West Los Angeles office building.

However, police had no suspects or motive Tuesday for the incident at the six-story Olympic Plaza in the 11500 block of West Olympic Boulevard. The building houses the City National Bank as well as offices of the Internal Revenue Service and several entertainment firms.

No injuries or structural damage were reported from the blast, which resulted in a blaze that was extinguished in about 15 minutes by Los Angeles firefighters.

Employees said the building was rocked by two explosions about 10 a.m. At least one of the two devices that exploded was apparently a pipe bomb, police said. The three remaining bombs, which did not explode, were found near the car and appear to have been thrown out of the vehicle by the first explosion, Lt. Don Beasley said.

‘No Direct Leads’

Initial indications are that “the car was intended to explode as a bomb,” said police spokesman Phil Shattuck. “Presently there are no direct leads to indicate the intended victim or suspects.”

The vehicle, an old Toyota bearing no license plates, was reported stolen from Newport Beach last week. The car was parked in a space reserved for an employee of an independent producer of television programs and feature films. Beasley said that firm, with offices in the building, did not appear to be the target of the blast.