Credit: Romildo Martins, FlickrA Florida vacation destination was forced to close early three days in a row after getting four consecutive bomb threats. The fourth call reportedly came in around the park’s normal closing time, so an investigation was completed without impacting guest-facing operations. Law enforcement is investigating the source of the repeated threats.
Bomb Threats at Zoo Miami
The first bomb threat was called into Zoo Miami on Friday, March 13, according to The Miami Herald. The Florida park immediately evacuated guests and shuttered all operations. Shortly before 4:00 p.m., Zoo Miami posted on Facebook, confirming that the park’s security sweep had been completed and that no explosives were found. The park remained closed for the rest of the day and announced that it would reopen as scheduled on Saturday, March 14.
The security sweep at Zoo Miami has been completed and the park has been cleared. We will remain closed for the rest of the day, but will reopen tomorrow with normal operating hours.
We thank our guests, staff, and community for their patience and cooperation. The safety of our guests, staff, and animals remains our top priority.
For any questions or if you had tickets for today, please contact zoomiami@miamidade.gov.
Another bomb threat came in on Saturday, forcing the park to close early once again and perform another security sweep. Once again, nothing was found, and Zoo Miami posted on Facebook that it planned to reopen as scheduled on Sunday, March 15, with “enhanced security measures in place.”
Zoo Miami will reopen to the public tomorrow with enhanced security measures in place. In coordination with local law enforcement, additional protocols have been implemented out of an abundance of caution to help ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and animals.
Guests may notice an increased security presence, including K-9 units on site for screening and surveillance.
We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation and look forward to welcoming everyone back. Additional updates will be shared as needed.
On Sunday, Zoo Miami wrote on Facebook that it had received another bomb threat and “out of an abundance of caution temporarily closed while deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office including K-9 units already on site conducted a sweep.”
Once again, nothing was found. The park said it planned to open as scheduled on Monday, but that guests may notice additional security measures, including K-9 units:
Zoo Miami received another bomb threat today and out of an abundance of caution temporarily closed while deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office including K-9 units already on site conducted a sweep. The park was quickly given the all clear.
Zoo Miami will reopen to the public on Monday with enhanced security measures in place. In coordination with local law enforcement, additional protocols have been implemented to help ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and animals.Guests may notice an increased security presence, including K-9 units conducting screenings and patrols throughout the park.We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation and look forward to welcoming everyone back. Additional updates will be shared as needed.
Remarkably, the park received a fourth bomb threat on Monday, March 16. However, the call reportedly came in around 5:00 p.m., the zoo’s normal closing time. By 6:00 p.m., detectives had given the property the all-clear.
Law Enforcement Investigating
Detective Luis Sierra, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, said they believe the calls are a form of “swatting,” or hoaxes intended to provoke a large law enforcement response. However, the agency made it clear that it investigated each threat thoroughly to ensure there were no explosives on the Zoo Miami premises.
The park has reportedly received no further threats since Monday, March 16. However, law enforcement continues to investigate the source of the calls.
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