Bomb scare at California synagogue

Police investigating a blast near a Los Angeles-area synagogue on Thursday said it was caused by a mechanical failure, and not a pipe bomb as they had originally thought.

There were no reports of damage or injury from the 6:45 am blast, not far from Chabad House in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Monica.

FBI investigators and bomb technicians responded to the scene, spokeswoman Lourdes Orocho told Reuters, along with Santa Monica and Los Angeles police.

But later in the morning, Santa Monica police spokeswoman Lauralee Asch said investigators discovered the cause of the blast was a mechanical failure and not an incendiary device. She had no further details.

Chabad House posted a statement on its website about the incident, which downplayed concerns.

"During morning services today the police department came to Chabad House in response to a report of an explosion. The men that were praying did not hear or feel anything," the statement said.

"Rabbi Levitansky grabbed (one) of the new Torah scrolls so they can finish services" at a nearby location, the statement said.

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