Bomb Squad called out to Jewish center in Isla Vista after suspicious container found

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad was called out to the Hillel Jewish Student Center on March 23 after a suspicious metal container was discovered sitting on the ground in front of an electrical closet.

Personnel with the Sheriff’s Office, UC Santa Barbara police, and California Highway Patrol, evacuated buildings in the immediate area of the Jewish Student Center, which is located in the 700 block of Embarcadero del Mar.

Nearby streets were closed off to cars and pedestrians while authorities investigated the contents of the container.

The incident began at about 2 p.m. when Santa Barbara County Fire inspectors were conducting routine fire inspections in Isla Vista. The team of inspectors called the Sheriff’s Office, and although no specific threat was ever issued against the Jewish Student Center, deputies called the bomb squad in an abundance of caution.

The Sheriff’s Bomb Squad eventually determined the metal container did not contain any hazardous materials and deemed it safe.

All evacuations and roads in the area re-opened at about 4:30 p.m. It’s unknown how long that metal container had been sitting in front of the electrical closet.