3:24pm | A large section of the Port of Long Beach was shut down early Friday morning after dockworkers discovered a container on which someone had written a bomb threat.
According to the Press-Telegram, the message on the side of the container found at Berth 94A read “There is a bomb in here!”
Federal agents responded to the scene at Pier A at approximately 1 a.m. The area was immediately evacuated as U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents used special X-ray equipment to probe the contents of the container, CPB’s acting director of Field Operations, Carlos Martel, reportedly told the PT.
The Harbor Patrol, Long Beach police and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Bomb Squad were also on hand at the scene and assisted in evacuating the area as well as temporarily shutting down the adjacent Commodore Schuyler F. Heim Bridge.
The pier was reopened at about 7 a.m. after the container, which had originated from Asia, was reportedly discovered to be carrying nothing but barbecue equipment.
An investigation into the person or persons responsible for scribbling the message on the container has been launched, authorities said.