Los Angeles police officials say there appears to be "no nexus" between terrorism and four dry ice bombs recently found at Los Angeles International Airport -- two of which exploded.
No one was injured in the explosions that occurred Sunday and Monday night inside secure areas of LAX that are accessible only to employees.
The latest explosion occurred about 8:30 p.m. Monday near the gate area of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, law enforcement authorities said.
Two similar devices were found in the vicinity. All three were bottles with dry ice inside, according to LAX police.
The devices appeared to be outside the terminal near planes, according to television images.
On Sunday, a dry ice bomb exploded about 7 p.m. in a restroom at Terminal 2, which is home to several international and domestic airlines. The area is also off limits to the public, police officials said.
"Apparently there is no nexus to terrorism right now," LAPD Det. Gus Villanueva told The Times.
The FBI was assisting the LAPD in the investigation into how the devices were placed in restricted areas at LAX.
There was minimal disruption of airport activities on Monday night, but the explosion on Sunday suspended operations in Terminal 2, and flights were delayed until about 8:45 p.m. as the LAPD bomb squad responded. Police estimated that about four flights were affected.
Passenger Feliciano Jiron told KCBS-TV Monday before the second explosion that he was concerned a dry ice bomb could be set at the airport, given all of LAX's security measures.
"Given the times we live in, it's a bit interesting that something like this would happen, even with all the security and all the efforts that people are putting forward," he said as he and his family arrived to catch a flight to New Mexico.
Copyright 2013 - Los Angeles Times
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
