SM PIER — Police reopened the Santa Monica Pier around 7:30 p.m. Saturday after determining that two suspicious packages found near the finish line of Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon did not contain explosives.
Santa Monica Police Sgt. Jay Trisler said police officers found a duffel bag and a cooler underneath the pier during a routine sweep in preparation for the marathon. The pier was evacuated around 6 p.m. and a 1,000-foot barrier was established as a precaution while the bomb squad investigated.
After about two hours it was determined that the packages did not pose a threat and the pier was reopened.
Thousands are expected to flock to the pier Sunday for the marathon. The “Stadium to the Sea” route begins at Dodgers Stadium, funneling the 25,000 runners through Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Santa Monica. The finish line is Ocean Avenue just before the pier. A party is expected to take place following the race’s conclusion at the parking lot north of the pier.
kevinh@www.smdp.com
