The Santa Monica Police Department is asking everyone to stay away from the Santa Monica Pier while they investigate a bomb threat.
According to Lt. Saul Rodriguez, multiple anonymous phone calls were placed to outside law enforcement agencies regarding a bomb on the Pier. Those agencies forwarded the threats to SMPD and officers began an investigation during the early afternoon.
At about 3:30 p.m. officers located a suspicious vehicle on the Pier’s parking lot, near the location of the Twilight Concert Series venue. The vehicle triggered a full evacuation of the pier, the surrounding area and the businesses on the pier.
Several agencies have responded the investigation including Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad.
Rodriguez declined to provide specifics on what made the vehicle suspicious but said the investigation is ongoing.
The Sheriff's Bomb Squad eventually cleared the vehicle but the Pier remains closed and the investigation ongoing.