Bomb threat prompts evacuation of Milpitas movie theater, restaurant

MILPITAS, Calif. -- A movie theater and a restaurant at the Great Mall of the Bay Area in Milpitas were evacuated Saturday due to a bomb threat.

Management of Century 20 Great Mall received a phone call at 8:25 p.m. from someone saying there was a bomb located inside the theater, Milpitas police Sgt. Bryan Hinkley said.

Hinkley said the theater and its surrounding area, which included an Outback Steakhouse and a plaza, were evacuated within five minutes.

Milpitas police officers, as well as mall staff, conducted a search that lasted for half an hour, Hinkley said.

Shortly after 9 p.m., the search was called off and the businesses were allowed the reopen.

Hinkley said the person who called did not specify where the bomb was or make any demands.

Milpitas police will be working with a phone company to track down where the call came from, Hinkley said.