Bomb thrown at Kingdom Hall traced to girl, 17

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- A 17-year-old Costa Mesa girl could face up to seven or

more years in prison after being arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of

throwing a homemade bomb into a place of worship.

According to police, the girl, whose name was not released because she

is a minor, hurled the bomb into the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

in the 2200 block of Canyon Drive while riding her bicycle past it about

9:20 p.m.

The explosive device bounced off the hall’s front door, rolled toward

an outside wall and blew up, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney. No

one was hurt and no property damage was reported in the explosion, he

said.

Birney declined to comment on the nature of the bomb but said it was a

crude, homemade device.

“It worked, though,” he said.

Birney said police are not treating the incident as a hate crime

because there is no evidence as to whether the girl was targeting either

the hall or the neighboring apartment complex.

The girl was arrested and booked into juvenile hall, he said. She will

be tried in juvenile court and, if convicted, she could face between

three and seven years in prison, Birney said.

If also convicted for specifically striking a place of worship, an

additional punishment could be tagged on in the sentencing.

He said there were no people inside the hall, but several people saw

the girl casually throw the bomb at the building while she rode the bike.

No previous incidents similar to this one have been reported by the

Jehovah’s Witnesses in the past, Birney said.

But, he added, “this is quite a serious offense.”

Manuel Lugo, a member of the congregation, said he is shocked by the

incident.

“I know [Jehovah’s Witnesses] in other areas face persecution,” he

said. “But it’s never happened here.”

Lugo said the hall is new, not even 7 months old.

“I’m surprised,” he said. “As far as I know, this has been a peaceful

area.”