Police launched an active investigation after a caller reported multiple bombs at South High School, prompting a lockdown and evacuation precautions in the surrounding area.
A bomb threat at South High School in Torrance, California, prompted a major police response on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after authorities received a call reporting multiple bombs on the school campus.
According to the Torrance Police Department, its Communications Center received the call shortly after 11:30 a.m. The caller reportedly said there were multiple bombs on the South High School campus before hanging up. Officers responded immediately, and a significant police presence remained at and around the school.
The incident prompted school administrators to place South High School on lockdown while police investigated the threat.
Police Respond to South High School
The reported threat led to an immediate law enforcement response at South High School, located at 4801 Pacific Coast Highway, near the intersection with Calle Mayor.
Torrance police said officers and members of the department’s Real Time Response Center conducted preliminary assessments of the campus.
So far, those preliminary assessments have not found anything suspicious, according to police.
As a precaution, police K-9 teams trained in explosive detection were brought in through mutual aid and began conducting a systematic search of the campus.
Public Advised to Avoid Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor
Authorities issued an alert regarding police activity in the area of Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor and asked members of the public to avoid the area while the investigation continued.
Police also escorted pedestrians in the area to a safe distance and evacuated several nearby residences as a precaution.
The response resulted in a significant police presence surrounding the school and nearby streets.
South High School Placed on Lockdown
Following the reported threat, South High School was placed on lockdown.
Because of the school’s proximity to Richardson Middle School, that campus also took precautionary measures while authorities investigated the situation.
Police said students would not be released until the South High School campus had been fully searched and determined to be safe.
School and police officials were also working on a plan to reunite students with their families.
No Suspicious Items Found During Preliminary Assessment
One of the key developments in the investigation is that authorities said their preliminary assessment had not identified anything suspicious at the school.
However, the investigation remained active, and explosive-detection K-9 teams continued their systematic search of the campus.
Police did not immediately say whether the threat was credible or identify who made the call.
The circumstances surrounding the caller and the reason for the reported threat remain under investigation.
Nearby Residents and Pedestrians Evacuated as Precaution
Authorities took additional safety measures beyond the school itself.
Several nearby residences were evacuated as a precaution, while pedestrians in the area were escorted away from the immediate vicinity.
Parents arriving to pick up students were instructed by police to park at the Ross parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway and wait there while authorities continued the investigation.
No Injuries Reported
At the time of the latest official update reviewed for this report, no injuries had been reported in connection with the bomb threat.
There were also no confirmed reports of an explosion or an actual explosive device being found at the school.
The investigation remained focused on determining whether any threat or hazardous device was present on campus.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
The Torrance Police Department said the situation remained an active investigation and that the search was expected to take time to resolve safely.
Authorities have not publicly identified the caller or announced any arrest connected to the threat.
The police investigation remains focused on searching the campus, determining whether the reported threat was credible and identifying the source of the call.
Additional information is expected as investigators complete their search and coordinate with school officials.
Developing Story
The South High School bomb threat remains a developing situation in Torrance.
At the latest confirmed stage, police had not found anything suspicious during their preliminary assessment, but explosive-detection K-9 teams were conducting a systematic search of the campus.
The public was asked to avoid the area around Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor while the investigation continued.
Personal and Incident Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident | Reported bomb threat |
| Date | September 23, 2026 |
| Time Reported | Shortly after 11:30 a.m. |
| School | South High School |
| Address | 4801 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, California |
| Nearby Intersection | Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor |
| Threat Reported | Multiple bombs allegedly on campus |
| Caller | Not identified |
| School Status | Lockdown |
| Police Response | Significant police presence |
| Nearby Residences | Several evacuated as a precaution |
| Pedestrians | Escorted to a safe distance |
| Richardson Middle School | Precautionary measures taken |
| Suspicious Items Found | None during preliminary assessment |
| Explosive K-9 Teams | Deployed |
| Injuries | None reported |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Arrest | Not confirmed |
| Suspect | Not identified |
| Motive | Not available |
| Evacuation | Nearby residences evacuated as precaution |
| Public Safety Advisory | Avoid Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor area |
| Investigation | Ongoing |
Obituary, Memorial and Funeral Details
There have been no reported deaths connected to the South High School bomb threat.
Therefore, there are currently no obituary, memorial or funeral arrangements associated with this incident.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is based on information released by the Torrance Police Department and reporting from Patch as of September 23, 2026. Police said preliminary assessments had not found anything suspicious, while explosive-detection K-9 teams continued searching the campus. The identity of the caller, credibility of the threat, motive and any potential criminal charges had not been confirmed at the time of the latest update. Details marked “Not available” have not been invented or assumed.