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Owners of Florida restaurant challenge 'anonymous idiot' bomber to face them

Authorities say they're investigating a weekend blast outside a South Florida restaurant that caused no injuries.

MIAMI — The Broward County Sheriff's Office says in a statement that some sort of explosive device had been placed outside Giannino Italian Restaurant in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and that area residents heard an explosion late Saturday, just before midnight.

The restaurant addressed the incident on its Facebook page Sunday.

"At 11:54 p.m. on Dec. 24, an anonymous idiot placed a small bomb near the door of Giannino," the post said. "They have caused some damage, but the restaurant is safe and we're fine."

Sheriff's spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said in the emailed statement that authorities don't know if the incident was part of an attempted break-in or an effort to damage the business.

No arrests were reported, and the statement added that the sheriff's office is continuing to investigate.

It wasn't immediately disclosed whether anyone was nearby at the time.

The restaurant owners promised that the incident would not affect their operation.

"(We) do not know who wanted to damage my family," the Facebook post said. "We work hard for more than 16 hours a day. We are decent people, we run a family business, and today we will open the doors to our guests."

They then issued a challenge to whoever put the bomb outside the doors.

"Whoever you are, whatever the reason, you come to talk about it in person," the post said. "It is easy to commit acts of cowardice.

"Let's see if you have the courage of your actions (that) you come to look into my eyes."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.