Bomb Scare Holds Up Games

A bomb scare caused the evacuation of Cox Arena on the campus of San Diego State on Thursday morning, delaying by more than an hour the first of four opening-round NCAA tournament games.

No explosive device was found, according to Lt. Robert McManus of the campus police.

The arena was cleared after two bomb-sniffing dogs, trained to detect chemicals used in explosives, indicated “something strange” on a vending cart in an upper concourse, McManus said. However, two other bomb-sniffing dogs failed to react in the same manner.

All that was discernible to the naked eye, according to McManus, were paper towels, straws and other standard supplies found on a food cart. The cart was removed from the premises and underwent a further examination, but nothing out of the ordinary was found.

The alarm was issued at around 9:40, the time when the gates were to open to the public. Everyone already in the arena was moved outside and a full sweep of the building ensued. Nothing suspicious was discovered, McManus said.

The investigation involved members of the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the San Diego city police, San Diego firefighters and campus police.

Fans were finally allowed in around 11 a.m.

The first game, Marquette vs. Alabama, had been scheduled to start at 11:40 a.m. Instead, it tipped off at 12:50.

Meanwhile, the UCLA Bruins, scheduled to play in the second game, learned about the scare from Coach Ben Howland, who went door to door in their hotel, alerting players that the team’s departure for the arena would be delayed by about an hour.

The FBI had issued a warning last week in connection with an Internet posting that discussed terrorist attacks aimed at college basketball arenas and other sports stadiums.

However, the FBI also said at the time that there were no specific or credible threats. Thursday’s incident was not believed to be related to that warning, according to McManus.