Incident Summary:

4/29/1971: In a series of two incidents that might have been part of a multiple attack, suspected members of the Chicano Liberation Front bombed a Bank of America branch in Los Angeles, California, United States. There were no casualties but the building sustained $1,600 in damages.

GTD ID:
197104290003

When:
1971-04-29

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

California

City:
Los Angeles

Location Details:
East Los Angeles

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Bank of America
Specific Description Bank of America, Montebello branch in Los Angeles
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage $1,600.00
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Projectile (rockets, mortars, RPGs, etc.)
Weapon Details
Black powder device tossed from a car at the building
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Additional Information This might be part of a multiple attack with the bombing of Safeway in Los Angeles less than an hour earlier (197104290002). Both incidents took place in the East Los Angeles area and used similar types of bombs. The bomb was thrown from a car located in an alley behind the building. The Chicano Liberation Front claimed credit for the incident in a tape recording sent to the Los Angeles Free Press. The CLF stated that they were "fed up with our people being treated like dogs." However, authorities could not confirm if the CLF actually committed the attack.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Chicano Liberation Front (suspected) Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Other)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Bank, Store Bombed, Trucks Burned in L. A.," Washington Post, May 1, 1971.
Robert Watich, "Three-Way Probe Seeks Possible Link in L.A. Bombings," Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1971.
Paul Houston and Franz Rodriguez, "Chicano Militants Reportedly Claim 28 Bombings in L.A.," Los Angeles Times, August 14, 1971.