Car Bomb Detonates in La Mirada

A bomb ripped through an auto parked at a La Mirada auto repair shop Monday night, causing authorities to close a mile-long stretch of Santa Gertrudes Avenue and a portion of Adelfa Drive.

The explosion came shortly after 8:20 p.m. at Matta Auto Repair, seconds after a woman who had parked next to the vehicle left her car and walked around a corner, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies said.

“If she had come in a minute or so later, she could have been injured or killed,” said Lt. Ken Chausse. “It looked like a pipe bomb.”

Chausse said investigators had not determined how the explosives were detonated.

“I have no idea why anyone would do anything like that,” said Simon Matta, who owns the repair shop with his brother Elias.

The brothers, both Lebanese immigrants, have been in business in La Mirada for eight years, Simon Matta said. He added that he hasn’t received any threats.

Elias Matta speculated that the bombing could have some connection to the current crisis in the Middle East.

“It could be possible because people are passionate about what’s going on there,” he said. “But that’s pure speculation.”