The FBI is investigating an explosion and vandalism on Saturday morning at a Southern California church that has drawn protests against its controversial pastor and his anti-LGBTQ views.
A fire and explosion were reported shortly after one in the morning at First Works Baptist Church in El Monte, about 13 miles east of Los Angeles. The police, responding to the scene, saw smoke rising from the windows exploding with the explosion and graffiti scattered outside the one-story brick building.
No injuries were reported, city officials said in a press release.
The El Monte fire department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI also responded to the explosion.
The FBI referred to the explosion as an “IED attack”.
CALIFORNIA IGNORES PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, KEEP CORONAVIRUS DATA HIDDEN
Fourteen houses and eight apartments in the area were temporarily evacuated, as investigated by bomb technicians. All residents returned to their homes at 8 am.
Authorities did not immediately announce the reason, but protesters repeatedly target the church led by Pastor Bruce Mejia, who condemned same-sex relationships. So far, there have been no arrests.
A command post is seen outside First Works Baptist Church after an explosion in El Monte, California, Saturday, January 23, 2021. The FBI and local police are investigating an explosion early Saturday at the Los Angeles area church. that there had been protests over his anti-LGTBQ message. (AP Photo / Damian Dovarganes)
“As to the question of whether this was a hate crime, it will always be considered among theories when a house of worship is attacked,” said Los Angeles FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller in a statement provided to San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “But it would be premature to confirm any reason at this point, and we have not ruled out any other reason.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit advocacy group that tracks hate groups, placed the church on its watch list of “anti-LBGTQ hate groups” in 2019.
A statement on the church’s website states: “We believe that homosexuality is a sin and an abomination that God punishes with the death penalty.”
The church did not immediately return Fox News’ request for comment on Sunday.
CALIFORNIA MAINTAINED FOR $ 5 MILLION CONNECTION AFTER FIVE PIPE PUMPS, ILLEGAL WEAPONS FOUND AT HOME, BUSINESS
In an interview with The New York Times on Saturday, Mejia said the attack “will not really stop us from doing what we always do”.
“We are not afraid of that. It is just a small bump on the way, and we are still planning to have a church tomorrow, obviously not in this current location, but we are still planning to have a church and once that is all said and done, we will be back “said the pastor.
Two weeks before the attack, Mejia submitted a report to the police saying that the church had received an arson threat via social media, Mercury News reported.
El Monte’s police chief, David Reynoso, met with Mejia on January 7, advising him not to react to criticism or instigate violence. Residents who spoke at a recent city council meeting described Mejia’s sermons and church postures as hate speech.
After Saturday’s attack, Keep El Monte Friendly, a group that has organized protests against the church, said in an Instagram statement that its group “is rooted in love” and “does not tolerate or promote violence”. The post directed anyone with information to contact the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
An online petition initiated by Keep El Monte Friendly calling for the church to be expelled from the city had more than 14,000 signatures on Saturday morning, according to the Associated Press.
Los Angeles County supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents the district where the church is located, condemned the IED attack in a statement, vowing that “violence is never the answer, even in response to hate speech” .
She said her office forwarded concerns about the pastor’s “anti-LGBTQ + and misogynistic sermons” to the Los Angeles County Human Rights Commission, which has been working with the city of El Monte to “lessen the situation”.
“I value inclusion, diversity and equality. I also support the right to protest peacefully; however, this attack is wrong and it is dangerous, ”wrote Solis. “I urge city leaders, religious leaders and civic leaders to come together and work together to resolve the hate problems in our community.”
El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona said the attack was “highly worrying” and called for a full investigation.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“As its mayor, I will always ensure that the city of El Monte continues to be an example of civility, respect and inclusion for all people across the country,” said Ancona in a statement on Twitter. “We are a city that takes care and protects all its residents and visitors. We respect and defend the laws that protect each of us, regardless of who we are. At this very moment we must be together to rise in the City’s statement of El Monte’s slogan, ‘Welcome to the Friendly El Monte.’ “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.