Bomb Threat Causes Springfield, Ohio City Hall To Close Two Days After Donald Trump’s False Immigrant-Pet Claim During Debate

Just two days after Donald Trump made a false allegation during the presidential debate, claiming that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets in Springfield, Ohio, the City Hall in that area was evacuated and shut down today because of a bomb threat.

In a post on Springfield’s Facebook page, city officials announced that a bomb threat was made against several facilities in Springfield today, leading to the evacuation and closure of City Hall. While the motive for the threat has not been revealed, it coincides with widespread media attention on Springfield due to the misinformation recently spread by Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.

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“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.”

City officials reported that the threat was received through an email this morning at 8:24 AM ET. The email was sent to several agencies as well as media organizations.

“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.”

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Trump repeated the false claim during the widely viewed ABC debate between himself and current Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday night. Echoing misinformation that Vance had shared earlier on social media, Trump stated, “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 quickly dismissed Trump’s assertion, stating that the network had verified with the Springfield city manager that there were no credible reports of pets being harmed by the city’s immigrant community.

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