A controversial church in El Monte is now the center of an FBI investigation after a
homemade bomb damaged the building.
Several people have been protesting the church because of its pastor and his anti-LGBTQ views.
The explosion happened yesterday morning at the First Works Baptist Church on Tyler Avenue.
Nobody was hurt, but the building was damaged and also vandalized.
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said her office was working with the city and the county's
Human Rights Commission to try and de-escalate the situation.
El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona called the incident highly concerning and said she was
asking for a full and thorough investigation.
Now there is an online petition asking El Monte's mayor to remove the church from the
city.
It's gathered more than 15,000 signatures.
The Southern Poverty Law Center also lists First Works Baptist as one of 88 hate groups
in the state.
We have reached out to the church for comment and we're waiting to hear back.
Hello I'm Mark Brown.
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