Authorities surrounded Naval Base San Diego Tuesday morning to investigate another threat to the facility – once again at portable bathrooms.
Navy Region Southwest officials said the threat was made in a portable bathroom at Pier 7 around 8:10 a.m. As a precaution, officials roped off Pier 6, Pier 7 and Pier 8 while military K-9 officers sniffed out the area. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) officials were notified.
By 10:50 a.m., all three the piers were deemed safe and the area was cleared, officials confirmed. No further details were immediately released.
This marks the fourth such threat at U.S. Navy facilities in San Diego this month alone, the third at this exact location – a portable toilet on a ship at Pier 7. The other two incidents at Pier 7 happened on May 1 and May 11. On May 2, a written threat was found on the wall of a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair, Navy officials said.
Since November, 17 separate hoax bomb threats have occurred at Naval Base San Diego, BAE Shipyards and NASSCO, according to the U.S. Navy. These false threats have stumped investigators and prompted emergency responses, searches and, at times, evacuations. The threats have also resulted in work stoppage to maintenance and repair work being conducted in U.S. Navy ships.
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.
Local
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
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.
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.
