Man Made Bomb Threat To Broomall MMA Tournament: Police

BROOMALL, PA — A Pittsburgh man has been charged with making terroristic threats and causing a false alarm after Marple Police said he called in a bomb threat to an MMA tournament in Broomall.

James O'Brien Jr, 31, of Pittsburgh, is accused of making a treat to an MMA tournament being run by Grappling Industries was being held at the Marple Sports Arena on Jan. 19.

Police that day were called to the arena, 611 S. Parkway Boulevard in Broomall for a report of a threat in progress.

Police learned an employee got a phone call on the business line from a man who said: "Call the Fire Company because there is a terroristic threat, and they need to evacuate the building."

The man told the employee the arena's address when making the threat, police said.

Police learned Grappling Industries was also hosting an MMA tournament in Illinois, which also got similar calls from a man.

An investigation into the calls determined O'Brien, who is a former employee of Grappling Industries, made the calls to the tournaments, police said.

Police said there was no threat to public safety, despite the calls.

O'Brien was taken into custody at about 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, police said.

He is awaiting his arraignment in Delaware County, court records show.