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3 weeks ago
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UPDATE: Multiple city, county and school buildings in Springfield, Ohio, were closed today following a bomb threat received early this morning.
The closings included at least one elementary school, according to local reports.
The Dayton Daily News report that Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said the threat mentioned “frustration with the city related to Haitian immigration issues.”
In addition to county buildings – including courts, drivers license bureaus, board of elections and others – the evacuations and closures included the city’s Fulton Elementary School. Students were evacuated and moved to Springfield High School, where parents were instructed to pick them up.
In a statement released to local media by the Springfield City School District, a spokesman said, “Based on information received from the State Fire Marshal, Fulton students were evacuated from their building to Springfield High School this morning. Students and staff are safe; however, the District is in the process of a controlled release to safely dismiss Fulton students to their parents. This is however, the ONLY District building that has been affected at this time.”
Earlier today, Springfield City Hall was evacuated and closed today due to an emailed bomb threat that was received by multiple facilities throughout Springfield. The threat comes 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
While the city’s mayor did not reveal details as to a possible motive, he said the threat made mention of “frustration with the city related to Haitian immigration issues.”
“City of Springfield received a bomb threat that has prompted an immediate response from local and regional law enforcement,” the initial Facebook post stated. “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. By 9:25 a.m., nearly a dozen police vehicles reportedly were surrounding the City Hall building.
“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 amplified the falsehood during the highly rated ABC debate between the former president and current Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday night. Repeating misinformation that running mate JD 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.
