"Suspicious Package Detonated at Long Beach Airport"

Monday, September 11, 2006

Suspicious Package Detonated at Long Beach Airport
The Associated Press


LONG BEACH -- Authorities at Long Beach Airport detonated a suspicious
package found in a rental car today, an airport spokeswoman said.

No explosives were found.

The investigation prompted airport officials to close off the terminal,
although people who had already passed through security were allowed to stay
inside, airport spokeswoman Sharon Diggs-Jackson said. No airport staff were
evacuated.

Diggs-Jackson said the airport would be reopened about two hours after the
package was found about 8:30 a.m. inside a car at the rental lot, located
across from the terminal.

The suspicious item was described as a carrying case, said Sgt. Paul
Patterson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Members of the department's bomb squad detonated the case shortly before
10:30 a.m.

"They are very cautious in how they approach these devices and how they
handle these situations," Patterson said. "You never know what's in there,
and you don't want to risk anybody's safety."

During the investigation, people outside the terminal and waiting to check
in at ticket counters were taken to the entrance of the airport. All
arriving cars were held at the airport entrance, Diggs-Jackson said.

Flight arrivals were not affected, but a few departing airplanes were held,
she said. About eight departures were delayed.

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