South Korean police conducted a thorough search at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome following a reported bomb threat against Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Approximately 150 police officers, equipped with sniffer dogs and X-ray detectors, scoured the stadium but found no explosives, as confirmed by Seoul's Guro police station.
The police action was prompted by a tip indicating a threat against the Japanese baseball player, although specific details were not disclosed. The search was initiated after South Korea's consulate general in Vancouver, Canada received an email threatening to detonate an explosive at the Gocheok stadium during the Major League Baseball opening game between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, scheduled for later that day.
The email, written in English and purportedly sent by a Japanese lawyer, raised concerns among authorities. Police suspect that the sender may be the same individual who previously sent threatening emails and faxes while posing as a Japanese lawyer.
Despite the security sweep, game preparations at the stadium proceeded as planned. Groundcrews were seen inspecting the fields, and K-pop performers rehearsed in the outfield without disruption. Guro police officers announced that around 350 officers would be deployed by the start of the Dodger-Padres game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines with their significant contracts, including a record-setting deal with Shohei Ohtani and another lucrative agreement with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The team's presence in Seoul for the opening series against the San Diego Padres has generated considerable excitement, attracting a rock star following.
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