Investigators Probe Scattered Explosions

At least five explosions rocked scattered sites in San Diego early New Year’s Day, breaking windows at a neighborhood market, scattering customers at a bar and destroying a residential mailbox, among other damage.

One person suffered minor injuries in the blasts, the Fire Department said.

Authorities said it was not clear whether there was any link between the explosions, which varied considerably in intensity and occurred intermittently during an almost six-hour period.

Police and Fire Department arson experts were investigating.

At least five explosions were confirmed, but authorities said there may have been additional blasts. Information on some of the incidents was still sketchy late Monday.

The first explosion occurred at 12:49 a.m. at the Lancer’s cocktail lounge on Park Boulevard in North Park, police said.

According to an employee, someone tossed an explosive device through the side door of the bar, stunning the 60 or so New Year’s revelers present. No one was injured, said the employee, who added that it took 20 minutes for the smoke to clear.

At 1:12 a.m., Fire Capt. William Middleton said, a pipe bomb exploded in the 3200 block of Myrtle Avenue in the City Heights section. The powerful blast blew the glass out of doors and windows at the Park Villa Market.

At 3:38 a.m., Middleton said, explosives destroyed a mailbox in the 1000 block of 30th Street, scattering mail on the street. U.S. Postal Service officials were investigating.

Shortly after 6 a.m., a device--evidently a large firecracker--was set off near a downtown bench on C Street where a man was apparently sleeping. The man received minor injuries, Middleton said.

San Diego police also reported a loud explosion at 1:04 a.m. in the 4000 block of Alabama Street in North Park, but no other details were available.