A MAJOR tourist attraction has been evacuated after a man claiming to have a bomb climbed a Ferris wheel and refused to come down.
Terrified parkgoers were on the ride at Santa Monica Pier in California on Monday when a man starting scaling the metal Ferris wheel.
Facebook/jennifer.e.crawfordA man is seen on the Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier after he climbed the ride on Monday[/caption]
KTLAThe Santa Monica Pier was evacuated after witnesses told cops that the man claimed to have a bomb[/caption]
Witnesses heard the suspect say that he had a bomb, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
The Santa Monica Pier was evacuated as cops warned the public to avoid the area.
“Our officers are currently evacuating Pacific Park and the pier and our Crisis Negotiation Team is contacting the subject who appears to be in crisis,” the department wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pictures shared on social media showed the man, dressed in a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers and wearing what appeared to be a backpack, clinging to the metal beams of the ride.
It’s unclear what led the man to climb the Ferris wheel.
Video showed a crowd of onlookers standing on the pier as police led them away from the scene.
Rescuers brought in tall equipment to evacuate riders who were stuck on the Ferris wheel as a team of negotiators was sent to talk to the man.
At 4.30pm local time, Santa Monica police reported that the man was in custody and the investigation was ongoing.
Cops later said that no bomb was found and the pier reopened.
The Pacific Wheel is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, according to the Santa Monica website.
The ride gives visitors a panoramic view of the Southern California coastline from above the iconic pier.
“Measuring 85 feet, the wheel moves at 2.5 revolutions per minute with intermittent stops to pick up passengers,” the website says.
“[It] features more than 174,000 energy-efficient LED lights that display dynamic, eye-popping computer-generated lighting entertainment in the evenings.”
According to state and manufacturer’s guidelines, single riders are prohibited on the Pacific Wheel.
Santa Monica Pier is 1,651 feet in length and 301 feet in width.
It houses a small amusement park, concession stands, and areas for sightseeing and fishing.
Pacific Park is the only amusement park directly located on the West Coast of the US and is the only admission-free park in Los Angeles.
It has been featured in more than 500 movies and TV shows including Hannah Montana, 90210, Forrest Gump, and was parodied in the hit video game, Grand Theft Auto V.
KTLAOnlookers gathered behind caution tape as police tried to keep them away from the scene[/caption]
Citizens AppA negotiator was sent in to try to convince the man to come down[/caption]
KTLAThe man later climbed down and was taken into custody, said police[/caption]
The Mega AgencyThe Pacific Wheel is the only solar-powered Ferris wheel in the world[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
