There have been two new threats against U.S. Navy facilities in San Diego, the latest in 21 threats received over the last six months, officials said Wednesday.
Messages were left in a portable toilet on a ship at Pier 7 on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for Navy Region Southwest.
The threats first appeared on November 6. In May alone, Navy investigators say six threats have been left at Pier 7 and BAE Systems Ship Repair at Naval Base San Diego.
Four other similar threats were reported on May 1, May 2, May 11 and May 17.
"The deliberate attempts to interrupt maintenance and operations on our nation's warships are a serious matter and will ultimately cost the U.S. taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars," Special Agent in Charge Gunnar Newquist said in a written news release.
The culprit or culprits responsible for the threats have not been arrested. Officials have now doubled the reward -- set at $10,000 -- for information leading to an arrest and prosecution of the suspect or suspects. Anyone with information can call NCIS at (619) 556-1364.
Since November, 21 separate hoax bomb threats have occurred at Naval Base San Diego, BAE Shipyards and NASSCO, according to the U.S. Navy.
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The modus operandi is always the same: a handwritten threat on the wall of a ship or written on the wall inside a portable toilet on a pier.
According to the U.S. Navy, the other threats occurred as follows:
- Nov. 6, 2015: a threat written inside a portable toilet on a ship at NASSCO
- Nov. 16, 2015: a threat written inside a portable toilet on Pier 13 at Naval Base San Diego
- Nov. 23, 2015: a threat written inside portable toilet on a pier at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- Dec. 9, 2015: a threat written on wall inside a portable toilet at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- Dec. 11, 2015: a threat written inside a stairway on a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- Dec. 15, 2015: a threat written on the wall of a bathroom stall on a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- Jan. 19, 2016: a threat written in a portable toilet at Pier 6 at Naval Base San Diego
- Feb. 4, 2016: a threat written on a wall inside a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- Feb. 9, 2016: a threat written on a wall and desk of a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- Feb. 17, 2016: a threat written on a portable toilet at Pier 5 at Naval Base San Diego
- Feb. 22, 2016: a threat written on a wall inside a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- April 7, 2016: a threat written in a portable toilet at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
- April 12, 2016: a threat written in a portable toilet at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
- May 1, 2016: a threat written in portable toilet on ship at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
- May 2, 2016: a threat written inside a wall of a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
- May 11, 2016: a threat written in portable toilet on pier at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
- May 17, 2016: a threat written in portable toilet on pier at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
- May 24,2016: a threat written in portable toilet on ship at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
- May 25, 2016: a threat written in portable toilet on ship at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
Naval Base San Diego, also known as 32nd Street Naval Station, is located at 3455 Senn St., across 1,600 land acres and 326 acres of water. The facility is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 46 Navy ships, one Coast Guard cutter, seven Military Sealift Command logistical support platforms, several research and auxiliary vessels.
