Bomb Threat Prompts Evacuation At Santa Monica Middle School

SANTA MONICA, CA — A bomb threat was reported Tuesday at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District officials told Patch.

The Santa Monica fire and police departments asked people to avoid the area near the Lincoln Middle School in the 1500 block of California Avenue near 14th Street, district officials said. The area was cleared shortly after 2:30 p.m.

"We want to inform you that we have received a bomb threat at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica," the district said in a statement Tuesday.

The threat was received via email shortly before 1 p.m. and was immediately reported, officials told Patch. Teachers and staff on campus — about 20 adults — were evacuated safely. No students were at the school because of the ongoing pandemic.

The Santa Monica Police Department was investigating the threat.

"We highly recommend staying away from the campus at this time, until SMPD provides the all- clear report," Superintendent Ben Drati said in a statement.

Teachers at Lincoln Middle School were conducting classes from their classrooms via Zoom. Classes were canceled for the remainder of the day.