Crime & Safety

Bomb Threat Empties Newport Theater

An unidentified caller leaves a voice message at Newport Theatre Arts Center demanding money, and warning of a bomb, police say.

The Newport Theatre Arts Center was evacuated Wednesday evening after someone called in a bomb threat, a police official reported.

At about 5:44 p.m. the theatre, located at 2501 Cliff Dr., received a threatening voicemail message, according to Jennifer Manzella, police spokeswoman.

"Staff there had just received a voicemail message, from a call that was placed on Monday at 6:37 pm, demanding a sum of money or else a bomb would go off in 48 hours," Manzella explained.

Newport Beach police and the Orange County Bomb Squad responded to the theater and evacuated the building. 

"Neither a bomb-sniffing canine, nor personnel in their secondary check, found any bomb or bomb-making material," Manzella said. 

The bomb threat is under investigation and detectives are working to determine the the origin of the call.

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