TERROR SCARE ON THE PIER Authorities went on heightened alert in August as a possible probe of the Santa Monica Pier was conducted in July by suspected Middle Eastern operatives who may have been involved in a terrorist organization.
It was enough of a scare for local police and officials to approve $2 million in security upgrades, which included surveillance cameras and beefed-up police patrol with bomb-sniffing dogs. Security cameras have been placed throughout the downtown area and the pier.
The preemptive measures came after a citizen on July 3 spotted three men, all of whom were of Middle Eastern decent, suspiciously videotaping specific areas of the pier, including access roads and the SMPD’s police substation. The citizen tipped police off to the suspicious activity in late July, an action prompted by the London bombings earlier that month.
The citizen handed over to the SMPD photos of the men. The next day, the SMPD shared the photos with state and federal agencies. It is believed that those same men have been seen scouting other areas of Los Angeles.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2005. Read the original PDF.