Bomb Threat Closes Springfield City Hall Two Days After Trump Spread False Immigrant-Pet Claim During Debate

Two days after Republican candidate Donald Trump spread a debunked claim during the presidential debate that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets in Springfield, Ohio, the locale’s City Hall was evacuated and closed today due to a bomb threat.

In a message posted on Springfield’s Facebook page, city officials write that a bomb threat was issued to multiple facilities throughout Springfield today, and that City Hall was evacuated and closed as a result.

A motive has not yet been disclosed, but the threat comes amidst global headlines about Springfield stemming from the misinformation amplified this week by Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

“City of Springfield received a bomb threat that has prompted an immediate response from local and regional law enforcement,” the post states. “As a precautionary measure, the building has been evacuated, and authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our employees and residents. We are working to address this situation as swiftly as possible.”

According to city officials, the threat was received via an email message this morning at 8:24 am/ET. The email was sent to multiple agencies and media outlets.

“We ask the community to avoid the area surrounding City Hall vicinity while the investigation is ongoing and to report any suspicious activity to the Springfield Police Division. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work through this matter.”

Trump reiterated the falsehood during the highly rated ABC debate between the former president and current Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday night. Repeating misinformation that Vance had promoted earlier on social media, Trump said, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs – the people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”

Debate co-moderator and ABC News anchor David Muir immediately shot down Trump’s claim, saying the network had confirmed with the Springfield city manager that no credible reports of pets being harmed by the city’s immigrant population had been received.

On Wednesday, Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck posted a video message on the city’s Facebook page decrying the “misinformation circulating on social media and further amplified by political rhetoric in the current, highly charged presidential election cycle.”

The Haitian community in Springfield has increased significantly – and legally – in recent years due to an increase in manufacturing and warehouse jobs.