• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Photo

In response to a bomb threat to West Los Angeles shopping centers, police were on heightened aler

Thursday was business as usual, despite the possibility of a terrorist attack threatening to happen sometime that day in West Los Angeles.

Federal officials announced the potential threat Wednesday afternoon. The threat targeted an unnamed shopping mall near the Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard.

Many of the malls in the surrounding area, such as the Westside Pavillion on the corner of Pico and Westwood avenues, increased their security.

Police said the Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force was actively investigating the matter, and that they had increased the number of police on patrol.

Before 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nancy Greenstein, director of communications for university police, said people had been particularly vigilant, and that she was waiting for additional information.

Wendy Lugo, a student at Santa Monica College and an employee at Papyrus at the Westside Pavillion mall, said the idea of a threat was scary.

“I think the mall should be closed – period,” she said.

Despite the heightened security, shoppers at local malls seemed relatively unfazed.

Jessica Kim, a recent UCLA alumna who was shopping in the Westside Pavillion, was skeptical of the validity of the threat. She said terror alerts are just a way for the government to scare the American people.

Police decided to make this threat public because it specified a date and general target – adding that they have received over 1,000 threats in the past year, most of which do not generate intensive investigations.

The threat and some other information was explored for several days prior to Wednesday’s announcement said LAPD Chief William Bratton. He added that the alert was strictly precautionary.

“I heard it in the news,” said Sergio Rivas, 19, a student at SMC who had just purchased sandals from the Westside Pavillion mall. “It brought fear to me, but I have stuff to do.”

“I have to show fearlessness,” he said with a laugh.

With reports from Graciela Sandoval, Bruin senior staff, and Bruin wire services.