Suspected bomb in Redondo Beach cleared [UPDATE]
The suspected bomb at the South Bay Marketplace was later determined to be a 'flash bang.' Photo .
Shortly after 8 p.m. on Thursday the Redondo Beach Police department was contacted by the U.S. Military about two possibly dangerous active military men in the area. According to Redondo Beach Police Department Capt. Jeff Hink, the pair was suspected of having an explosive device in a white Dodge Ram truck, and they were potentially in Redondo Beach. They were soon spotted in the parking lot of the furniture store Living Spaces standing next to the truck and were taken into custody.
Bomb squad and robot.
“The military said that they were concened the individuals may have explosives inside the vehicle,” said Hink. “After identifying the vehicle, [RBPD police] instructed them to comply with police and they were detained without incident.”
RBPD and Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad personnel clear the scene. Photo
The military men, wearing civilian clothes, were moved to the command post of the operation near the close-by Target store and eventually transported to the RBPD jail. The men were detained on suspicion of having an explosive ordinance.
“We will work with military personal to determine what to do with them,” said Hink.
The truck was surrounded by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad and the entire area was evacuated within minutes. Police set up a perimeter to keep people safe and away from a possible blast zone by evacuating Living Spaces, Nordstrom Rack, Sprouts, Target and the surrounding parking lots. The South Bay Galleria was already closed and was not officially evacuated. Additionally the AMC movie theatre inside the mall was still open and movies were not interrupted by an evacuation because of the venue’s safe distance from the potential epicenter, police said. The bomb squad entered the scene and deployed a robot and personnel entered the area suited up in green and ready to investigate what was in the truck.
“We don’t know the connection to this area at this time,” Hink said.
Late Thursday evening Military police contacted the RBPD about a possible vehicle in the area carrying explosives. The vehicle was found in the parking lot of Living Spaces and the two active duty military men were taken into custody. Photo .
Television helicopters circled overhead as members of the bomb squad removed suspicious objects from the cab of the truck. After an hour they eventually determined that the men had a ‘flash bang’ in the vehicle, an object used to simulate artillery shells. Police officers determined the area was safe and the yellow police tape that was posted at least 300 feet away from the truck was taken down and the scene was wrapped up around midnight.
“The area is all cleared,” RBPD Sergeant Scott Weibel said.
The truck was towed from the parking lot and the investigation has been turned over to the military authorities.