SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — BART and San Francisco police are on scene at the airport’s BART station after a bomb threat forced the station’s closure Friday, authorities said, and later the evacuation of the international terminal.
Shortly before 8:45 p.m., BART social-media posts said the station was closed. Trains on the system’s Millbrae line were not traveling to the station. In a follow-up post, BART said SamTrans buses were providing service between Millbrae and the airport in both directions, and that buses would accept BART tickets as fare, officials said.
In separate social media posts, airport staff said the airport’s international terminal was being evacuated and asked visitors to avoid it until further notice. The post added that AirTrain and BART service were suspended, with passenger drop-off and pick-up only at the airport’s domestic terminals.
As of 10:50 p.m., the terminal and the airport’s A and G garages were still closed, with bus shuttle service offered between domestic terminals. By 11:20 p.m., vehicles were allowed to leave those garages.
In an emailed statement, San Francisco police said airport-assigned officers received a report around 8:15 p.m. of a bomb threat, found a suspicious package and “deemed the item possibly incendiary” before clearing the terminal and calling in the department’s explosives unit to investigate.
Police added that a man had been detained in connection with the incident.
There is a station closure at San Francisco Int’l Airport due to police activity.
— BART Alert (@SFBARTalert) July 16, 2022
There is a station closure at San Francisco Int’l Airport due to police activity. Samtrans bus service is available between Millbrae and SFO in both directions. Samtrans will accept BART tickets as fare.
— BART Alert (@SFBARTalert) July 16, 2022
Due to ongoing police activity the Int’l Terminal is being evacuated. Please avoid the International Terminal until further notice. AirTrain and BART service are suspended. Passenger drop-off and pick-up only at the Domestic Terminals. More updates to be come.
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️ (@flySFO) July 16, 2022
Tonight @SFPD officers received bomb threat at @flySFO. Offs located suspicious package. Int’l Ter evacuated, EOD Unit investigating. We will provide live updates as the investigation continues. Expect delays as this may interrupt current airport operations
— Officer Rueca (@OfficerRueca) July 16, 2022
Update: Int’l Terminal and Garages A&G are still closed. Police continue to investigate. AirTrain and BART service still suspended. Bus shuttle service offered between Domestic Terminals. Check with your airline for specific flight information.
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️ (@flySFO) July 16, 2022
Vehicles are now allowed to exit international garages
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️ (@flySFO) July 16, 2022
Check back for updates.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
Source: www.mercurynews.com