Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose was shut down and evacuated yesterday after a bomb threat sent police racing to the family attraction on the 1300 block of Senter Road. Officers swept the grounds and surrounding area but did not find any suspicious devices or items, and zoo staff kept the park closed for the rest of the day while the investigation continued.
San Jose police told KTVU they were alerted to what appeared to be a possible swatting call involving a bomb threat and responded just after 10:20 AM. Officers evacuated the immediate area, conducted a search, and reported finding nothing suspicious during the sweep. The investigation remains open, according to the outlet.
According to the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo website, the park closed for the day yesterday and was scheduled to reopen today. The site notes parking at Story Road and at the Leininger Center lot on Senter Road, which sits in the same general area the police searched.
Wave of Zoo "Swatting" Calls Hits Across the U.S.
The San Jose closure landed in the middle of a string of hoax-style "swatting" calls that have triggered evacuations at several U.S. zoos this month, according to the Associated Press. Authorities have repeatedly turned up no explosives in those incidents, the AP reports, and the FBI views swatting as a growing national problem that can siphon off critical public-safety resources and bring federal penalties.
Police Probe Ongoing as Park Watches the Phones
San Jose police told KTVU the probe remains active, and no arrests have been made. Investigators have not disclosed who placed the call and say they will keep following leads as the case moves forward.
Anyone planning a visit is urged to check the park’s official site for the latest before heading out, per the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo website, which noted that the park was slated to reopen Sunday after Saturday’s closure.
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