LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles police chief says a catastrophic fireworks explosion that injured 17 people and rocked a neighborhood last month was caused by bomb technicians.
Chief Michel Moore said Monday that the bomb squad grossly miscalculated the weight of homemade fireworks when they detonated them in a containment chamber. He said five bomb squad members have been removed from field duties as the investigation continues. They could face discipline.
The bomb technicians estimated the weight of the explosives and a counter-charge to be about 16.5 pounds.
Federal authorities who weighed the remains after the blast calculated the weight was more than 42 pounds. The chamber's maximum capacity is 25 pounds.
