Bomb Threat Locks Down Torrance High School, Nearby Homes Evacuated

TORRANCE, CA — A reported threat of multiple bombs at South High School prompted a lockdown Wednesday as police evacuated several nearby homes and explosive-detection dogs began searching the campus, authorities said.

The Torrance Police Department received a call shortly after 11:30 a.m. reporting multiple bombs on the South High campus, according to a department news release. The caller hung up on dispatchers.

Officers immediately responded to the school, and administrators placed the campus on lockdown. A significant police presence remained at and around the school Wednesday afternoon.

Police escorted pedestrians away from the area and evacuated several nearby residences as a precaution. Richardson Middle School, which is near South High, also took precautionary measures, police said.

Nothing Suspicious Found In Initial Search

Preliminary assessments by officers and the department's Real Time Response Center had not found anything suspicious, according to police.

Explosive-detection K-9 teams were brought in through mutual aid and began what police described as a systematic sweep of the South High campus. Students will not be released until the entire campus has been searched and determined to be safe, police said.

Parents arriving near the school were being directed to park at the Ross parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway and wait there. Police and school officials were developing a plan to reunite students with their families, though authorities said it was not yet known whether students would be released by the normal dismissal time.

A Torrance Alert was also issued for police activity near Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor, with members of the public asked to avoid the area. Police said the investigation remained active and warned that it was expected to take time to resolve safely.

South High School is located at 4801 Pacific Coast Highway. California Department of Education records list it as a public Torrance Unified high school serving grades 9 through 12. No information about the identity of the caller or a possible motive was immediately released.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.