A bomb threat at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday evening turned out to be a hoax, but it still brought a swift response from police and a short-lived scare for weekend visitors. Officers briefly pushed people back from the immediate area while specialized units swept the popular waterfront spot. No injuries were reported, and operations returned to normal once the search wrapped up.
Police response
The Santa Monica Police Department said officers arrived at the Pier at about 5:30 p.m. and, working with specialized units, carried out a detailed search before deciding the report posed no danger, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. The outlet reported that the pier stayed open during the assessment and that no injuries were reported.
What officials said
CBS Los Angeles reported that in a news release, the department said, “All operations at the Pier have returned to a normal status,” noting that while the pier technically remained open, many people were moved away from the immediate area while officers worked. The station also reported there was no immediate information on who made the call. Police asked anyone who sees suspicious activity to call 911 or the SMPD non-emergency line at 310-458-8491.
Pier history and context
The Santa Monica Pier has seen similar scares in recent years. In October 2023, a man climbed the Pacific Park Ferris wheel and claimed he had a bomb before officers took him into custody, according to a City of Santa Monica press release. That incident, along with a handful of other hoaxes and scares since, helps explain why city and emergency crews continue to carry out thorough sweeps and keep a visible presence at the waterfront when any threat comes in.
