Security Measures in Los Angeles Metro Following Threatening Phone Call 'from a Foreign Country'

U.S. police officials say they are investigating a phone threat of a bombing on one of the lines of the Los Angeles Metro. Reuters reports, citing security officials, that this phone call was made from a foreign country. The Los Angeles police reported on Monday, December 6, U.S. time, a phone threat of 'explosion' on the Red Line of the city's metro at the 'Universal City' station, near the Universal Studios amusement park. Charlie Beck, the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, told reporters that the threat was 'imminent' and 'specific.' Mr. Beck added that the nature and validity of the threat are still under investigation. According to Reuters, after it was determined that the phone call was made from a foreign country, the matter was referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and officials from the country from which the call was made. However, the name of the country from which the call was made has not been disclosed. The caller threatened to carry out an attack around the 'Universal City' station in the 'red alert' zone of the Los Angeles urban railway. The Los Angeles police reported an increase in security measures around the Universal station and some other areas of the city's metro. Charlie Beck emphasized that this action is being taken out of caution and assurance. The Red Line metro connects the central and northern areas of the city, including Hollywood and North Hollywood. Train operations on this line will be suspended between 2 AM and 4 AM due to the threat. The Los Angeles urban metro has a total of six lines and 93 stations. More than 360,000 passengers use these lines daily, with nearly half boarding and alighting at 'Red Line' stations.