Posted in: Comics | Tagged: anime los angeles, Comics, HRL

Anime Los Angeles Aware of Threat of Violence, Taking Steps to Ensure Safety

Published Sun, 28 Jan 2018 13:32:40 -0600

Though this weekend's Anime Los Angeles convention has been, by all accounts on social media, a fun experience for all, a chilling anonymous post on 4chan Sunday morning threatened the peaceful event with claims of a plan to commit an act of violence at the final day of the event.

"This is it. I say I would do it, waiting for the last day of con," the post read. "I am going to make phoenixcon look like a fucking joke."

The post refers to an event at last year's Phoenix Comicon where a man named Matthew Sterling brought an arsenal of weapons to the con with the reported intent to commit violence on attendees and to assassinate one of the featured guests, Power Rangers star Jason David Frank. Thankfully, the attempt was thwarted and nobody was hurt, and a general awareness of the potential for violence has led to increased security precautions at conventions across the country.

"You weebs needs to go," the anonymous post continued. "The day has comes. May the Lord forget what I'm about to do."

The post has been making the rounds on social media, with some claiming to have reported it and urging more to do the same. Through contact with sources on the ground at the convention, Bleeding Cool understands that ALA officials are aware of the threat, and are doing bag checks and wanding at entrances to the convention. Additionally, we understand that it's default policy for police to be on the scene at conventions in California, and that the police are indeed aware of the threat.

Of course, even before the threat, the convention already has an existing weapons policy designed to promote safety:

ALL weapons must be non-working and peace-bonded (see below).
No functioning projectile weapons includes water pistols, silly-string guns, and ping-pong pistols. Bladed weapons must be cased or sheathed at all times.
No "live-steel", aluminum, or other metallic bladed weapons are allowed to be without casing or sheathing, even if the blade has been dulled.
There will be absolutely no play-acting with props indoors
Explosives or chemicals of any kind including, but not limited to, smoke powder, sparklers, and fireworks, are not permitted at the con Do not bring anything that would annoy another attendee

Bleeding Cool reached out to Anime Los Angeles for an official comment, and will post an update if they respond.

If you're attending Anime Los Angeles, stay safe first and foremost, and report any suspicious activities. We'll keep you posted if we learn anything more.

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