SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police said they’ve found no explosives at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome after searching the site Wednesday following a reported bomb threat against Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
About 150 police officers used sniffer dogs, X-ray detectors and other equipment to search through the stadium, but no suspicious objects were discovered, according to Seoul’s Guro police station.
Police officers said they acted on a tip that there was a threat targeting Ohtani but didn’t elaborate.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the search happened after South Korea’s consulate general in Vancouver, Canada received an email threatening to detonate an explosive at the Gocheok stadium during the Major League Baseball opening game between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres scheduled to start later Wednesday. The game will mark the first MLB regular season game in South Korea.
Yonhap said the sender of the English-language email claimed to be a Japanese lawyer. Yonhap cited police as suspecting the email might have come from a person who last year allegedly sent a slew of similar threatening emails and faxes while claiming to be a Japanese lawyer.
Police and bomb-sniffing canines were seen searching the seats and hallways of the stadium during the morning. The search did not appear to affect game preparations, with groundcrews checking the fields and K-pop performers rehearsing in the outfield.
Guro police officers said a total of about 350 officers will be deployed by the time the Dodger-Padres game begin.
On Tuesday, authorities in Seoul conducted a thorough search at a stadium in response to a bomb threat against Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani. The threat, which was made via email, claimed that explosives had been planted at the stadium where Ohtani was scheduled to play.
Despite the seriousness of the threat, the search yielded no explosives, and the game went on as scheduled. This incident highlights the importance of taking all threats seriously and implementing proper security measures to ensure the safety of players, staff, and spectators.
In recent years, there has been an increase in bomb threats targeting high-profile events and individuals. These threats not only disrupt the normal flow of activities but also create fear and anxiety among those involved.
Authorities have been working diligently to investigate and prevent such incidents from occurring. In this case, the swift response and thorough search conducted by the police helped to ensure that the stadium was safe for everyone present.
It is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or threats to the authorities. By working together and staying alert, we can help prevent potential tragedies and keep our communities safe.
In conclusion, while the bomb threat against Ohtani may have caused concern and disruption, the swift action taken by authorities helped to ensure that the stadium was secure. It serves as a reminder of the importance of taking all threats seriously and working together to maintain a safe environment for all.