- A mass e-mail threat sent to officials in several U.S. states on Wednesday caused temporary disruption to government affairs.
- Despite evacuations, no explosives were found, and federal authorities dismissed the bomb threat as a hoax.
- The bomb threat followed a series of false reports known as “swatting” targeting the homes of government employees.
Bomb threats were sent via email to officials in multiple states early Wednesday, briefly disrupting political affairs and causing evacuations from some state capitols, but no explosives were found and federal Authorities quickly dismissed the threat as a hoax.
The threat comes in the wake of a spate of false reports in recent days about shootings at the homes of government employees.
Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana are among the states that have evacuated their statehouse offices and buildings.
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The FBI said it is aware of numerous hoax bomb threats to the Capitol, but “there is no information indicating a specific and credible threat.” The department said it works with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies to gather, share and act on information.
A bylaw sniffer dog patrols the grounds of the Mississippi State Capitol as Capitol Police respond to a bomb threat at the building on January 3, 2024 in Jackson, Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
“The FBI takes false threats that endanger innocent people very seriously,” the statement said.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on the X show that the Capitol building was evacuated while state police investigated threats received at the Secretary of State's office. Lawmakers were elsewhere for ethics training, but Secretary of State spokeswoman Michon Lindstrom said filings for some candidates had been suspended.
A “mass email” warned that multiple explosives would be detonated within hours.
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Public safety officials locked down the Mississippi State Capitol for the second day of the legislative session, and the state Senate postponed its morning session. The building was evacuated and bomb-sniffing dogs circled before a complete defence.
“This is an ongoing investigation and there is no further threat to the Capitol or surrounding buildings,” Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Bailey Martin said in a statement.
In most states, the closure period was short and disruption was minimal.
The Montana State Capitol reopened within two hours after a sweep of the building was completed and the threat was determined not to be credible, Department of Administration spokeswoman Megan Grotzke said.
Oral arguments in the state Supreme Court inside the Minnesota State Capitol were suspended but moved to other courtrooms at the Minnesota Judicial Center, Minnesota Judicial Department spokesman Kyle Christopherson said.
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Other states, including Wyoming, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Missouri and Maryland, also received threats but did not shut down.
Several public servants have received “swatting” calls in recent days. Swatting is a prank call to emergency services intended for police response.
Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was the target of a fake emergency call on Christmas morning. Maine Secretary of State Shena Bellows was hit with a “knock-down” attempt a day after she removed former President Donald Trump from the state's presidential primary ballot under the U.S. Constitution's insurrection clause, but Mr. This decision is being appealed.
Other public officials recently targeted include New York Republican Rep. Brandon Williams, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. It will be done.
Hundreds of swatting incidents occur every year.
