A MAJOR tourist attraction has been evacuated after a man claiming to have a bomb climbed up a Ferris wheel in a terrifying scene.

Police cleared out the Santa Monica Pier in California on Monday and are telling people to avoid the area after witnesses heard the suspect saying he had a bomb.

“The SMPD Crisis Negotiations Team is on site dealing with a person in crisis,” the police wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Pictures shared on social media show the man, dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers and wearing what appears to be a backpack, clinging to the metal beams of the ride.

Video showed a crowd of onlookers standing on the pier as police led them away from the scene.

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Caution tape was used to keep people at bay.

The Pacific Wheel is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, according to the Santa Monica website.

The ride gives visitors a panoramic view of the Southern California coastline from over 130 feet above the iconic pier.

“Measuring 85 feet, the Wheel moves at 2.5 revolutions per minute with intermittent stops to pick up passengers,” read the website.

“Features more than 174,000 energy-efficient LED lights that display dynamic, eye-popping computer-generated lighting entertainment in the evenings.”

According to state and manufacturer’s guidelines, single riders are prohibited on the Pacific Wheel.

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