August 4th, 2013
12:14 AM ET
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Car slams Venice Beach Boardwalk; 12 injured

A car plowed into a crowd of pedestrians at Venice Beach on Saturday, injuring 12 people before the driver ran away, fire and police officials said.

Two people were in critical condition and two were in serious condition Saturday night, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

The victims were on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, a famed tourist attraction on the west side of Los Angeles lined with hundreds of street vendors and performers.

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Filed under: California • Crime • Los Angeles • U.S.
August 4th, 2013
12:06 AM ET
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Threat prompts U.S. to close embassies

Fears that al Qaeda may launch attacks in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond in the coming days prompted the United States to close 22 embassies and consulates for a day Sunday - an unprecedented move.

The closures Sunday stretch across a swath of North Africa and the Middle East, from Mauritania to Oman.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan, both majority Muslim nations, also are affected.

Normally, Sunday is the start of the work week in those countries.

The shutdowns could extend beyond Sunday, a senior State Department official said.

A U.S. global travel alert is also in place.

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Filed under: Politics • U.S. • World