"'Suspicious Device' Causes Long Beach Airport Evacuation"

Monday, December 12, 2005

'Suspicious Device' Causes Long Beach Airport Evacuation
By Megan Garvey
The Los Angeles (CA) Times


Scores of passengers and employees were evacuated from Long Beach Airport
this morning after baggage screeners saw a "suspicious device" while
x-raying the carry-on luggage of a male passenger, authorities said.

Long Beach police were notified of a possible security breach shortly before
8 a.m., said Officer Israel Ramirez. People in the terminal were evacuated
to a parking lot while police investigated. 
 
"The bomb squad came. They isolated it and they did whatever they do to
render it safe," he said. The passenger whose baggage caused alarm had not
been arrested, Ramirez said, but was questioned by investigators.

"They are talking to him now," said Ramirez, two hours after the initial
alarm had been sounded. Ramirez said he could not confirm a news report that
the device appeared to be a grenade.

Today's incident came less than two months after bomb threats disrupted
travel at Long Beach and three other Southern California airports, and a toy
mistaken for possible explosive caused delays at a fifth. In the Oct. 25
incidents, Long Beach police used bomb-sniffing dogs to search the airport
grounds for hours after the early morning telephone threat was made toward
the city's airport. The threats that day also targeted LAX, John Wayne and
Ontario.

The discovery of the suspicious device this morning halted departing flights
for about two hours. At least one incoming flight was held on the tarmac
away from the gate and an American West flight was diverted to John Wayne
Airport in Santa Ana, officials said.

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************