Torrance school put on lockdown as police investigate bomb threat

A Torrance high school was put on lockdown as police investigated a bomb threat Wednesday, Sept. 23.

School response and safety measures

Around 11:30 a.m., someone called police, said there were multiple bombs on the South High School campus and hung up, according to Torrance police.

The school was placed on lockdown as officers arrived and evacuated nearby homes and pedestrians.

Nearby Richardson and Calle Mayor middle schools sheltered in place, according to the Torrance Unified School District.

As of about 3:30 p.m., police said they hadn’t found anything suspicious, but police dogs trained in explosive detection were searching the campus.

Students won’t be released from school until the campus has been searched, and parents were instructed to park at a nearby Ross on Pacific Coast Highway and wait until the scene was determined safe.

Police and school officials continued to work on a plan to reunite students and their families.

School response and investigation

The public was also asked to avoid the area near Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor as the investigation continues. Copyright 2026 .