Bomb Threat Evacuates Government Buildings and School in Springfield, Ohio

Government buildings and an​ elementary school in Springfield, ⁤Ohio were evacuated Thursday after an‍ emailed bomb threat, police said, rattling the small ‌US city at the heart of an⁢ anti-migrant conspiracy theory amplified by Donald Trump.

Springfield has been thrust into the spotlight in recent days after an unfounded story of Haitian migrants eating pets went viral⁢ on social media, with the Republican ex-president ​and current White House candidate ‌pushing the narrative despite ⁤it being debunked.

Democrats have accused Trump and his⁢ running mate, Ohio Senator JD ‌Vance, of‍ fanning ‌racial‍ tensions as‍ they use the​ Springfield conspiracy theory to elevate immigration as a campaign issue ahead of ​November’s election.

Trump doubled down on ⁣the rhetoric during ⁤a​ campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, saying that migrants are walking off with the town’s‍ geese.

Immediately after mentioning ⁢Springfield in his speech, ‍Trump added: I’m angry about young American girls being raped and sodomized and murdered by savage ⁤criminal aliens, though provided no specific ⁢details.

Springfield authorities said there ⁤were no credible reports of ⁤pets being harmed by ⁤members of the ⁢immigrant community — accusations that Trump also ‌repeated in his Thursday debate against ‌Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

The White ‍House condemned the claims on⁣ Thursday as filth and said‍ they ‌were endangering people’s lives.

Evacuation and Investigation

On​ Thursday, Springfield police said ‍that City⁣ Hall and⁢ several other government‍ buildings ​had been evacuated after a ⁢bomb threat sent by email at 8:24 am (1224‍ GMT).

Authorities investigated and cleared‍ all facilities ⁢listed in the⁣ threat with the ‍assistance of explosive detecting canines, the ‍force said in a statement.

Fulton Elementary School and Springfield ⁢Academy ‌of Excellence were also ​listed in the threat ⁢and ‌evacuated, ​according to ⁤the statement.

We‍ are currently⁣ partnering with the Dayton office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to identify the source of the email, it added.

Tensions⁣ in the ⁤Community

Arriving at the school to retrieve his child,⁤ Haitian immigrant Mackenso Roseme​ told ⁤AFP that the ‍current tensions in the community were worrying.

I’m a little stressed.‌ I think something might‍ happen, he said.

A sign in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole informed Roseme ‍and other parents that the students had been ⁣moved to a high ⁣school.

Mayor Rob Rue told the⁤ Springfield News-Sun that the person who sent the bomb threat claimed to be from the ‌city and mentioned Haitian⁤ immigration ​issues.

Trump’s ‍Response

Despite the bomb threats, Trump‍ was still reposting ⁢memes⁣ related to ⁤the conspiracy ⁣theory hours later on his⁤ Truth ​Social platform.

He claimed⁢ Ohio was being inundated with illegal migrants, mostly ⁤from Haiti, who are taking over Towns ‌and Villages at a level and rate never seen before.

Immigration in Springfield

Springfield, with a population of about 58,000, has seen an increase in ⁢Haitian immigrants in recent years — ​10,000 to 15,000 according to the Springfield News-Sun.

Social services, schools and housing have been stressed in the city for years, with some ⁤pointing​ to migration as⁤ a factor.

Ohio Governor Mike‍ DeWine — a Republican like⁤ Trump⁤ — gave some context to the situation ⁣in Springfield during an interview Thursday.

DeWine said‍ 15,000 immigrants from Haiti live in Springfield, a dramatic change for the city, and​ added they were there under ‍Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which​ allows foreign nationals to live and work in‍ the United States.

Why did⁤ they come? They came‍ for jobs, DeWine told Fox⁢ News ⁢reporters. There’s nothing‌ wrong with us being welcoming.

Community Response

A multiracial group ⁢of pastors called a press conference Thursday in Springfield, joining hands in prayer and calling on the community to come together.

Today there were some ⁤things that happened, some threats⁢ of violence, Wes Babian, a former pastor of First Baptist Church, told ⁢AFP.

That is part of what motivated‍ the quick calling of clergy to come together to express our support for the Haitian community‍ and our concern for the well-being of the entire ⁢community.