SANTA MONICA, Calif. — California’s Santa Monica Pier was closed down Monday after a man climbed onto a Ferris wheel and claimed to be carrying a bomb, authorities said.
In a tweet, the Santa Monica Police Department announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that officers were “dealing with a person in crisis.”
The pier was evacuated, along with Pacific Park, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Suspect apprehended
Update 8:17 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: After about an hour of negotiations, police apprehended the man as he worked his way down the structure at about 4:30 p.m. PDT, KTLA-TV reported.
The subject is no longer on the ferris wheel and is in police custody. Please continue to stay away from the area as the investigation wraps up. More will be shared when available. pic.twitter.com/EXtbBUGqMd
— Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) October 9, 2023
Original report: Witnesses allegedly heard the man make comments about possessing the explosive device, KTLA-TV reported. No injuries have been reported, according to KABC-TV.
Lt. Erika Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Department told the Times that officers were attempting to extract riders from the Ferris wheel while they communicated with the man to “try to get him to come down.”
The #SantaMonica Pier is closed for police activity. We have a subject who has climbed onto the Ferris Wheel. The subject was heard by witnesses saying he has a bomb. Our officers are currently evacuating Pacific Park and the Pier and our Crisis Negotiation Team is contacting… pic.twitter.com/UTkRVhlcTo
— Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) October 9, 2023
Aklufi said officials had not confirmed whether the man was carrying a bomb.
Here's a close-up look at the man who scaled the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park, prompting an evacuation. Updates: https://t.co/bXKADSsyvq pic.twitter.com/tMJCMUFmB0
— KTLA (@KTLA) October 9, 2023
“Out of an abundance of caution, we’re going to act as if he does until we can prove that he doesn’t,” Akufi told the newspaper.
Just before 4:30 p.m. PDT, the man could be seen climbing closer to the pier as he appeared to be speaking with law enforcement officials, KCBS-TV reported.
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