Explosion Damages Building in Texas Housing FBI Office

An explosion blew out windows early Monday at an office building housing the FBI, prompting the government to tighten security at federal installations in Texas and four surrounding states.

No serious injuries were reported in the blast, which occurred shortly before 7 a.m. at Walker Plaza.

Investigators said they had no details about the type of explosive used. FBI spokesman Greg Rodriguez said there is no evidence that the FBI was the target; the building contains various businesses.

In Washington, Justice Department spokesman Carl Stern said: “There was no damage to any federal property. The explosion broke windows on another side of the building from where the FBI office is.”

Nonetheless, all federal buildings in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico were placed on a “heightened state of awareness,” said Trinidad Martinez, regional director of the General Services Administration’s Federal Protective Service. That means security officers are under instructions to keep a closer eye on people coming and going.

A federal official in Washington said there had been several calls to broadcasters claiming responsibility but they were viewed skeptically because they came in after the event had been made public.

Only two people are believed to have been in the building, officials said. One said she was treated for high blood pressure.