Arrr, the FBI be laughin' off them scallywag bomb threats to state capitals. All bluster, no booty!
2024-01-04
Arrr, me hearties! A handful o' states be feelin' a mighty disturbance in their governmental affairs, as scallywags sent bomb threats through the electronic mail on Wednesday. But fret ye not, me mateys, for the FBI be dismissin' these threats as naught but a blimin' hoax!
In a series of events that left government officials scratching their heads, a bomb threat emailed to multiple states turned out to be nothing more than a hoax. The incident caused some state capitol evacuations, but no explosives were found, leading federal officials to quickly dismiss the threats as false alarms.This comes on the heels of a string of false reports of shootings at the homes of public officials. The affected states included Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Montana, all of which had to evacuate their statehouse offices or buildings.
The FBI acknowledged the numerous hoax bomb threats at state capitol buildings but stressed that there was no credible information to indicate an actual threat. The bureau is working closely with state, local, and federal law enforcement to collect and share information.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear revealed that the state Capitol was evacuated due to a threat received by the Secretary of State's Office. While lawmakers were elsewhere for ethics training, some candidate filings were disrupted. The threat, sent via a "mass email," warned of multiple explosives set to go off within hours.
Although the closures were brief and disruptions minimal in most states, the Mississippi Capitol was locked down on the second day of the legislative session. Bomb-sniffing dogs were brought in, but ultimately, the threat was deemed non-credible.
Several other states, including Wyoming, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Missouri, and Maryland, also received threats but chose not to close their buildings.
In addition to the bomb threats, public officials have been targeted by "swatting" calls, a prank that prompts a police response. Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and other officials have all fallen victim to these elaborate hoaxes.
While these incidents certainly caused a stir, it is worth noting that hundreds of swatting cases occur annually, highlighting the need for thorough investigations and precautions to prevent unnecessary panic.