All Clear Issued After Bomb Threat at Huntington Hospital

Huntington Hospital was declared all clear at about 9:15 a.m. Friday after an extensive search found nothing following a bomb threat called in earlier by an extremist group known to law enforcement, city sources told Pasadena Now.

“…Normal operations are resuming. We are grateful for the swift response of our local law enforcement partners and appreciate the cooperation of our staff, patients, and visitors throughout this situation,”  Huntington Public Relations & Media Director Dorey Huston said at 9:47. “The safety and well-being of our patients, staff, and community remain our highest priority.”

Police cleared a traffic alert for streets around the hospital at the same time the all clear was given.

The threat came in at approximately 5:49 a.m. The hospital campus was secured, Lisa Derderian, the city’s chief communications officer, said. Pasadena Police Department canine units searched for suspicious packages or devices, and Pasadena Fire Department personnel were on scene during the response.

The hospital was closed to visitors early Friday but remained open under security screening protocols to all patients, including emergency department patients, hospital sources said.

“Pasadena Police Department immediately responded to our campus and are investigating,” Huntington Public Relations & Media Director Dorey Huston said at 8:22 a.m. “Our hospital is open to staff and patients, with screening protocols in place. We are working closely with our local authorities to ensure safety of our staff, patients, and employees.”

Huston said the hospital did not cancel scheduled care. “We aren’t canceling elective procedures or appointments. Our hospital is open, just with screening protocols in place,” Huston said.

Emergency room patients were diverted to other facilities during the response while law enforcement conducted sweeps of the campus, Derderian said.

California Boulevard remained open during the response, but heavy law enforcement activity in the parking lot across the street slowed traffic.

No details about the group believed responsible were immediately released.

City spokesperson Lisa Derderian said that Pasadena police along with their law enforcement partners continue to investigate the incident to identify the perpetrators.