Parcel bomb blast

Fatal day-spa explosion may have been targeted attack: FBI

AN explosion that ripped through a southern California day spa killed the owner, and investigators on Wednesday (local time) were looking into whether she was targeted in the crime.

Authorities declined to publicly say if they believed the spa owner was targeted, but one official briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that she had been the intended recipient of an explosive package.

Remnants of an explosive device were found inside the badly damaged spa where the powerful explosion on Tuesday afternoon shook the city of Aliso Viejo, about 80km south of Los Angeles, and tore a corner off the building that houses medical offices.

Two patrons were seriously injured. “We do not believe this was an accident,” said Paul Delacourt, special agent in charge of the FBI’s field office in Los Angeles.

“Although the damage was extensive, there are some components that we have located at the scene of the explosion that are inconsistent with what one might expect to find at this business.”

Investigators were working to determine a motive and figure out exactly how the device got to the spa, Mr Delacourt said. No arrests were made.

The blast is believed to have been caused by a package sent to the spa, two officials told the AP. The spa owner was believed to be the target, one official said.

The officials were briefed on the investigation but not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Formal identification of the body was continuing but authorities believe it was Ildiko Krajnyak, a licensed cosmetologist, who owned the spa. Friends set up a fundraising campaign to cover her funeral costs and fly her son home from Seattle, where he attends college.

Ms Krajnyak, 48, was originally from Hungary and had just visited there, according to her Facebook page and a neighbour.