Terror fears as FBI investigate 'imminent threat' on Los Angeles metro
THE FBI is investigating threats made against the Los Angeles Metro sparking fears of an imminent attack, officials have confirmed.
LA Metro
Authorities are trying to determine whether the threats made are credible.
The nature of the threat has not been yet been detailed.
The FBI confirmed they were investigating a threat made to the LA Metro
The FBI claim that it received a tip-off from a foreign agency about an anonymous call about the threat.
Deirdre Fike, the assistant director to the Los Angeles FBI, said: “The information was relayed this morning to the FBI’s joint-terrorism task force from our international partners that there was a potential threat from an anonymous phone call that was made on a public safety line regarding the Red Line that stops at the Universal Studios here in Los Angeles.
“The reason we want to bring this information to your attention is because there was the imminent threat that it was to take place tomorrow.
"We are right now looking at the credibility of the threat."
At a press conference, LA mayor Eric Garcetti claimed “at this point, I don’t think we can say that it is credible” but did confim efforts were ongoing to establish what the appropriate response should be.
The 45-year-old Democrat urged people in the city to continue to go about their daily routine and said he would be boarding the Red Line Universal City stop tomorrow morning – the station where the threat has been made.
The threat was made on the Unverisal Studio station – right next to the popular tourist destination
Ms Fike did not disclose which country the tip-off came from but did confirm it was delivered in English.
Los Angeles County sheriff, Jim McDonnell, added: “This could be real, it could be a hoax. We’re asking the public to stay calm and vigilant.”
Universal Studios in Los Angeles is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the US and saw 7.1 million visitors pass through its gates last year.