SM PIER — During a sweep before Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon Santa Monica Police officers found two suspicious packages, forcing them to evacuate the area and call in the bomb squad.
Officers discovered the packages around 6 p.m. Saturday and set up a 1,000-foot buffer zone, said SMPD Sgt. Jay Trisler.
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.
More information coming.
(story filed at 7:25 p.m., March 20).
kevinh@www.smdp.com
