Fake hand grenade prompts evacuation at Ontario International Airport

A gag gift in the form of a replica hand grenade prompted an evacuation at Ontario International Airport early Wednesday.

At 5:29 a.m., baggage screeners spotted a round object that looked like a hand grenade inside a bag going through a scanner, said Officer Rob Pedregon, a Los Angeles International Airport police spokesman.

Airport police and bomb investigators were called to examine the object and determined it was safe and did not pose a threat, he said. It turns out the object was a replica hand grenade and was part of a gag gift.

The fake grenade was in a box that said, “Complaint Department for Service Pull Pin.” The owner was present when authorities searched the bag.

Alarmed passengers posted videos on Twitter showing a bomb squad officer carrying a box.

Ben Hemmen, who was dropping off his brother at the airport as the evacuation was underway, said officials gave no explanation for the action.

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