Thursday was business as usual, despite the possibility of a
terrorist attack threatening to happen sometime that day in West
Los Angeles.
Federal officials announced the potential threat Wednesday
afternoon. The threat targeted an unnamed shopping mall near the
Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard.
Many of the malls in the surrounding area, such as the Westside
Pavillion on the corner of Pico and Westwood avenues, increased
their security.
Police said the Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force was
actively investigating the matter, and that they had increased the
number of police on patrol.
Before 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nancy Greenstein, director of
communications for university police, said people had been
particularly vigilant, and that she was waiting for additional
information.
Wendy Lugo, a student at Santa Monica College and an employee at
Papyrus at the Westside Pavillion mall, said the idea of a threat
was scary.
“I think the mall should be closed ““ period,”
she said.
Despite the heightened security, shoppers at local malls seemed
relatively unfazed.
Jessica Kim, a recent UCLA alumna who was shopping in the
Westside Pavillion, was skeptical of the validity of the threat.
She said terror alerts are just a way for the government to scare
the American people.
Police decided to make this threat public because it specified a
date and general target ““ adding that they have received over
1,000 threats in the past year, most of which do not generate
intensive investigations.
The threat and some other information was explored for several
days prior to Wednesday’s announcement said LAPD Chief
William Bratton. He added that the alert was strictly
precautionary.
“I heard it in the news,” said Sergio Rivas, 19, a
student at SMC who had just purchased sandals from the Westside
Pavillion mall. “It brought fear to me, but I have stuff to
do.”
“I have to show fearlessness,” he said with a
laugh.
With reports from Graciela Sandoval, Bruin senior staff, and
Bruin wire services.