Sylmar, CA — For the third time in just over two weeks, a suspicious military ordnance discovery has triggered a bomb squad investigation in Los Angeles County, this time beneath a 210 Freeway overpass in Sylmar.
LAPD Bomb Squad Called to Freeway Overpass
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers were dispatched around 12:30 p.m. on Monday to the 11800 block of Terra Bella Street after reports of a possible military explosive. Technicians from the LAPD Bomb Squad responded to secure and assess the object.
“We’re unable to confirm the type of ordnance or if it was live,” an LAPD spokesperson told KTLA. “Technicians are proceeding with caution.”
Aerial footage from Sky5 showed multiple police cruisers parked beneath the overpass. Yellow crime scene tape surrounded the area as bomb technicians examined the suspicious device. Fortunately, no evacuations were necessary, and officials said there was no immediate threat to public safety.
Part of a Troubling Pattern in Los Angeles
This marks the third incident involving military-grade devices found in civilian areas in just over two weeks, raising serious concerns about how these materials are being circulated or stored.
The previous two cases include:
- July 18 explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center, where an inert grenade unexpectedly detonated, killing three deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. The grenades had been found a day earlier in a Santa Monica storage unit.
- Just a week later, family members cleaning out a deceased relative’s home discovered military ordnance and brought it directly to LAPD’s Pacoima Station, prompting a full bomb squad response.
“We believe these were stolen from the U.S. military by a previously enlisted person,” investigators said in the wake of the July 18 explosion. That case remains under federal investigation.
Public Safety Precautions Emphasized
In Monday’s Sylmar case, LAPD did not immediately identify the type of item found, but the response was swift and methodical. Officials again stressed that even when no visible threat is detected, every case must be treated as real until proven otherwise.
Key reminders for the public include:
- Do not touch or transport suspicious military items.
- Call 911 immediately and wait for trained personnel to arrive.
Military to Collect Items in Ongoing Cases
In the Pacoima case last month, bomb technicians determined the items were safe to move, packaged them securely, and transferred them to a temporary facility. The U.S. military is expected to retrieve the ordnance in coordination with LAPD.
It is still unclear whether all three incidents are connected, but officials say the sudden uptick is concerning and will be monitored closely in the weeks ahead.
“Even if the item turns out to be inactive, the threat must be treated as real until proven otherwise,” one bomb technician told KTLA.
Authorities urge anyone who discovers potential military devices to avoid handling them and immediately notify law enforcement.
What’s your take on the repeated ordnance finds in L.A.? Share your thoughts in the comments.
