MAN THROWS HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVE INTO PASADENA CHEESECAKE FACTORY:
An unknown man threw a homemade explosive device into a Cheesecake Factory in Southern California Thursday as patrons dined on the American fare.
“This evening an incendiary device exploded within our Pasadena restaurant,” The Cheescake Factory said in a statement, according to ABC News. “Thankfully, none of our guests or staff was injured. Law enforcement is actively investigating the incident and we hope to reopen in Pasadena on Friday, as usual.”
After the apparatus was tossed and detonated, the restaurant filled with heavy smoke.
The device contained gunpowder, the Star-News said. Police said it was not a pipe bomb, not a Molotov cocktail, had no projectiles, no shrapnel and nothing was ejected.
“It could be a dissatisfied customer, a disgruntled employee,” Pasadena Police Lt. Mark Goodman said, according to the Star-News.
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek said the device was more like a firecracker than a bomb. Still, he said police are taking the incident seriously, according to the Star-News.
Local authorities notified federal agencies out of an abundance of caution, but don’t know if the incident was intended to be an act of terrorism, the Star-News said.
The man was seen fleeing the area on foot.
Police described the man as being Latino or Middle Eastern, about 6 feet tall, of thin build and with a heavy beard. He wore all black clothing and a black beanie, the Star-News said.
Some things simply aren’t done – nobody steps on a church in Peter Venkman’s town, and nobody should mess with the Cheesecake Factory that gave Penny her first job after leaving Nebraska.