July 2 (Bloomberg) -- A Los Angeles International Airport terminal was temporarily closed and a man was taken into custody while security officials investigated a bomb threat, a Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman said.

A man said he had explosive materials in a backpack, according to Sterling Payne, a TSA spokeswoman. A bag was inspected and found to be safe, said Christopher White, another spokesman for the agency.

Passengers were blocked from entering the Tom Bradley international terminal while the threat was being investigated, said Nancy Castles, an airport spokeswoman. The threat has since been cleared and passengers are entering, she said.

Roads in front of three of the airport's nine terminals -- 3, 4 and Bradley -- were closed during the investigation and later reopened, Castles said.

The threat was made at 10:55 a.m. Los Angeles time, Payne said. The security threat was cleared at 1:02 p.m., Castles said.

Passengers on arriving flights at the Bradley terminal were temporarily delayed in the Customs area pending the investigation, Castles said. Six planes scheduled for departure at that terminal were delayed as they awaited passengers slowed by the incident.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Hughes in Washington jhughes5@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 2, 2008 17:14 EDT