Oscars security scare might have been a test

A SUSPICIOUS package was found near the Oscars venue with law enforcement officials worried it might have been a ploy to test the police response time.

Police patrol in front of the Kodak Theatre. Picture: Bob Riha Jr/WireImage

SECURITY will be tighter than ever at this year’s Oscars due to the politically charged environment in the US.

It’s less than a week until Hollywood’s biggest stars gather at the Dolby Theatre and the LAPD is already on edge because of a recent security scare.

Ten days ago streets surrounding the Oscars venue were shut down when a suspicious package was discovered in the metro station on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

HOLLYWOOD UPDATE: Suspicious package at Hollywood/Highland station cleared, police say https://t.co/FqEEgwZIEh pic.twitter.com/HdzAfSABVC

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) February 11, 2017

The bomb squad was called in and it turned out to be a false alarm but a senior law enforcement official told Deadline that it might have been a test.

“You always wonder when something like that happens if someone is checking response time [for the bomb squad and robots],” the official said.

Another security expert told Deadline that the real concern is if clashes between protesters turn violent.

“This will be the largest stage of the liberal left in the world, and they will use it to promote political issues, so you’ll have immigration issues, Donald Trump issues and things like that,” the expert said.

“So knowing that, you look at domestic possibilities with clashes between the two sides. I think that Donald Trump gave certain powers to the right and the ultra-right, so there may be some issues with that outside. The security everyone is looking at is really about physical clashes of the ideas between people who believe in them.”

The LAPD said the biggest threat on the day will come from homegrown violent extremists but they insist they’re prepared with the SWAT team, sniffer-dogs, metal detectors and surveillance cameras all in place to protect the stars.

Security personnel stand guard at the red carpet arrivals area at last year’s Oscars. Picture: David McNew/Getty Images

“If things take a turn in the wrong direction, we will have the necessary measures in place to address those issues,” Horace Frank, the Assistant Commanding Officer of the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau said.

When the stars are inside the Oscars venue, their safety is in the hands of the LAPD — their bodyguards have to wait outside during the ceremony according to a security expert who spoke to news.com.au.

“At the big events the police run the show and we have found most of them to be highly efficient and well run,” Shawn Engbrecht from CASS global security said.

“Upon completion of the event, there is a well-oiled system where protection teams are reunited with their clients at a predetermined location.

“It’s also a rare chance for us to interact with other top end professionals so it is not a bad thing from our point of view.”

The Academy Awards will be broadcast live on Channel Nine at 12:30pm AEDT on Monday, February 27

Originally published as Oscars security scare might have been a test