SANTA MONICA—On Thursday, September 28, at approximately 7 p.m., officers from the Santa Monica Police Department evacuated all hotel guests at the Shangri La hotel in Santa Monica, and closed the entire stretch of pavement on Ocean Avenue from Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard after learning of a possible bomb being placed on a Metro Bus, Route 720.

Pedestrians were not allowed to pass, as yellow tape prohibited any kind of crossing. An officer revealed to bystanders that there was potentially a bomb planted on a Metro Bus parked at the corner of Arizona Avenue and Ocean Avenue. A K-9 unit, which arrived at 7:30 p.m. to investigate and the SMPD revealed the bomb threat was a false alarm at around 8:15 p.m.  Streets in the area were re-opened to pedestrians and motorists to  pass.

On September 11, a bomb threat closed the Santa Monica Pier for several hours as authorities investigated a nearby parked car that was deemed as a suspicious vehicle.  The pier was evacuated and no one was allowed to re-enter until the public’s safety was assured.