Fousey's Greek Theatre Concert Closed After Bomb Threat, 1,500 People Evacuated
YouTube performer Fousey’s concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles was cancelled on Sunday night following a bomb scare. The threat forced about 1,500 people to leave the venue.
Police received a call indicating a device had been planted in the venue, however, as of 10 p.m. local time (1 a.m. EDT) no such package was discovered during the investigation.
Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. David Armas said "No actual device was located, however, due to the direct threat it was determined the venue should be evacuated,” NBC reported.
The Los Angeles Police Department said that this might be “SWAT-ting,” a prank in which a caller reports a problem in a hope that an emergency team is deployed to a site.
The caller claimed to be in the crowd and asked for a payment of $5,000 from the police failing which he threatened to activate pipe bombs in the venue.
Police officials are working to find the caller.
Yousef Erakat better known as Fousey posted on Instagram saying he wasn’t able to get into his own event.
“We're just being tested right now," he said.
On Saturday afternoon, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, a location for many classic films and television shows, was closed for a short period of time following a bomb scare.
The Los Angeles Police Department said a suspicious package was found on the east side of the building following which visitors were immediately evacuated. No explosives were found inside the package.
The incident is still under investigation, however, the police department did not believe the Greek Theatre bomb threat was related to Saturday’s Griffith Observatory incident.
The Griffith Observatory was re-opened on Saturday after it was closed on Tuesday following a 25-acre fire that burned in the hills surrounding it.
“Grounds, roads, lots and trails and the areas around the Greek Theatre and Western Canyon will also be closed,” the Griffith Observatory had written on its website.
Los Angeles Fire Department said a handful of vehicles were destroyed near the observatory and around 2,000 people were evacuated.
Fousey is a 29-year-old YouTube personality who has built a fan base with his comedy sketches and pranks. His show on Sunday was titled “Hate Dies, Love Arrives.”
In April, he announced he was checking into a rehab for addiction, depression, and bipolar disorder. His channels went dormant last year following his bout with depression.
“We all got our own demons, battles, struggles, It’s on us to do something about it,” he tweeted.
The Greek Theatre is one of the oldest outdoor concert venues in the U.S. and has played host to some of the biggest legends in music. The first show took place in 1931 and was attended by nearly 4,000 patrons.
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