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Police in Lancaster, Pennsylvania respond to the bomb threat, apparently part of a nationwide hoax. (Photo: Carter Walker/Twitter)
Bomb Threat Hoax Emails Spark Nationwide Evacuations at Offices, Hospitals, News Outlets, and Schools
Regional police departments have said that the threatening messages, which demanded payments via Bitcoin, don't appear to be credible
Dec 12, 2018
An apparent bomb threat hoax demanding a payment in Bitcoin was circulated by email on Thursday, forcing local police departments to mobilize and evacuations at businesses, hospitals, government offices, news outlets, and schools across the country--including in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Michigan.
\u201cSearch \u201cbomb threat\u201d in twitter and you see they are happening all over the country including the metro Atlanta area. @wsbtv\u201d— Craig Lucie (@Craig Lucie) 1544728998
The FBI said in a statement, "We are aware of the recent bomb threats made in cities around the country, and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety."
Several local police agencies have said that authorities have found no credible evidence that the threats contained in the messages are "authentic."
\u201cNYPD Counterterrorism Bureau: \n\n\u201cWe are currently monitoring multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city. These threats are also being reported to other locations nationwide and are not considered credible at this time."\u201d— NBC News (@NBC News) 1544729395
The incident triggered a flurry of reports and comments on Twitter, including from many recipients of the emails:
\u201cWhat is wrong with these people ? So now we have #spam with #BombThreat in order to extort money from you in #Bitcoin ... This world is really upside-down ...#spam #malware #security #crypto #criminals\u201d— Realist (@Realist) 1544728785
\u201cSo I actually just got a bomb threat in my work email today ordering me to send the person $20,000 via bitcoin or they will blow up my place of work.... 2018 is wild\u201d— Ryan (@Ryan) 1544726107
\u201cJohnstown PD sweep the entire block as potential bomb threat is made to @tribunedemocrat.\u201d— Ron Fisher (@Ron Fisher) 1544727504
\u201cPolice say the office received a bomb threat, but the threat which demanded money, appears to be a hoax.\u201d— Jessica De Leon (@Jessica De Leon) 1544729536
\u201cPeople could re-enter the 17-story One City Plaza, home to several companies, about an hour after the evacuation. \n\nhttps://t.co/iLOyxufoh3\u201d— The News & Observer (@The News & Observer) 1544732140
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An apparent bomb threat hoax demanding a payment in Bitcoin was circulated by email on Thursday, forcing local police departments to mobilize and evacuations at businesses, hospitals, government offices, news outlets, and schools across the country--including in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Michigan.
\u201cSearch \u201cbomb threat\u201d in twitter and you see they are happening all over the country including the metro Atlanta area. @wsbtv\u201d— Craig Lucie (@Craig Lucie) 1544728998
The FBI said in a statement, "We are aware of the recent bomb threats made in cities around the country, and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety."
Several local police agencies have said that authorities have found no credible evidence that the threats contained in the messages are "authentic."
\u201cNYPD Counterterrorism Bureau: \n\n\u201cWe are currently monitoring multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city. These threats are also being reported to other locations nationwide and are not considered credible at this time."\u201d— NBC News (@NBC News) 1544729395
The incident triggered a flurry of reports and comments on Twitter, including from many recipients of the emails:
\u201cWhat is wrong with these people ? So now we have #spam with #BombThreat in order to extort money from you in #Bitcoin ... This world is really upside-down ...#spam #malware #security #crypto #criminals\u201d— Realist (@Realist) 1544728785
\u201cSo I actually just got a bomb threat in my work email today ordering me to send the person $20,000 via bitcoin or they will blow up my place of work.... 2018 is wild\u201d— Ryan (@Ryan) 1544726107
\u201cJohnstown PD sweep the entire block as potential bomb threat is made to @tribunedemocrat.\u201d— Ron Fisher (@Ron Fisher) 1544727504
\u201cPolice say the office received a bomb threat, but the threat which demanded money, appears to be a hoax.\u201d— Jessica De Leon (@Jessica De Leon) 1544729536
\u201cPeople could re-enter the 17-story One City Plaza, home to several companies, about an hour after the evacuation. \n\nhttps://t.co/iLOyxufoh3\u201d— The News & Observer (@The News & Observer) 1544732140
An apparent bomb threat hoax demanding a payment in Bitcoin was circulated by email on Thursday, forcing local police departments to mobilize and evacuations at businesses, hospitals, government offices, news outlets, and schools across the country--including in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Michigan.
\u201cSearch \u201cbomb threat\u201d in twitter and you see they are happening all over the country including the metro Atlanta area. @wsbtv\u201d— Craig Lucie (@Craig Lucie) 1544728998
The FBI said in a statement, "We are aware of the recent bomb threats made in cities around the country, and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety."
Several local police agencies have said that authorities have found no credible evidence that the threats contained in the messages are "authentic."
\u201cNYPD Counterterrorism Bureau: \n\n\u201cWe are currently monitoring multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city. These threats are also being reported to other locations nationwide and are not considered credible at this time."\u201d— NBC News (@NBC News) 1544729395
The incident triggered a flurry of reports and comments on Twitter, including from many recipients of the emails:
\u201cWhat is wrong with these people ? So now we have #spam with #BombThreat in order to extort money from you in #Bitcoin ... This world is really upside-down ...#spam #malware #security #crypto #criminals\u201d— Realist (@Realist) 1544728785
\u201cSo I actually just got a bomb threat in my work email today ordering me to send the person $20,000 via bitcoin or they will blow up my place of work.... 2018 is wild\u201d— Ryan (@Ryan) 1544726107
\u201cJohnstown PD sweep the entire block as potential bomb threat is made to @tribunedemocrat.\u201d— Ron Fisher (@Ron Fisher) 1544727504
\u201cPolice say the office received a bomb threat, but the threat which demanded money, appears to be a hoax.\u201d— Jessica De Leon (@Jessica De Leon) 1544729536
\u201cPeople could re-enter the 17-story One City Plaza, home to several companies, about an hour after the evacuation. \n\nhttps://t.co/iLOyxufoh3\u201d— The News & Observer (@The News & Observer) 1544732140
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