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Bomb Threat Puts Los Angeles Transit on High Alert

An overseas tip about an imminent bombing of the Metro Red Line's Universal City station has forced federal and local law enforcement in Los Angeles to swiftly ramp up security across its sprawling transit system, authorities said Monday.

By Richard Winton, Kate Mather and James Queally

An overseas tip about an imminent bombing of the Metro Red Line's Universal City station has forced federal and local law enforcement in Los Angeles to swiftly ramp up security across its sprawling transit system, authorities said Monday.

An anonymous man warned of a potential attack to take place Tuesday and provided the information on a tip line abroad, according to Deidre Fike, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's office in Los Angeles.

Fike declined to specify which country fielded the tip but said it was delivered in English.

At a hastily called news conference Monday night, the FBI as well as Los Angeles-area law enforcement leaders said the threat was considered specific and imminent, but investigators were still examining its credibility.

"This could be real, it could be a hoax," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. "We're asking the public to stay calm and vigilant."

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said that area law enforcement reviews threats "constantly" but that this particular incident was "very specific" and forced a rapid response.

"We don't have the time to vet this threat in the way we would like," Beck said. "This one we had to move quickly on."

Riders were told to expect an increased presence of uniformed police and sheriff's deputies as well as K-9 units scouring the area for explosives.

McDonnell, whose department overseas security for the Los Angeles County Metro rail and bus system, said undercover operations would be conducted throughout the day.

Mayor Eric Garcetti asked the public to prepare for random bag searches, and said he would ride the Red Line on Tuesday morning from Universal City.

"My advice is right now, everyone should go about their normal day tomorrow," Garcetti said. "People may see a heightened security presence ... but don't let those frighten you."

Chief Scott Edson, who oversees counterterrorism as head of the Sheriff's Department's Homeland Security Division, cautioned that the department often receives threats and that it's hard to determine the credibility. He said passengers should report any suspicious activity.

Last year, a phone threat of violence at L.A. schools prompted the district to cancel classes for the day. Officials later determined the threat was not credible, and there was some debate about whether the district overreacted.

(Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.)

(c)2016 Los Angeles Times

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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