The seal on the FBI J. Edgar Hoover Constructing is seen June 9, 2023 in Washington. Archive | Photograph credit score: AP
The FBI warned of bomb threats at polling stations in “a number of” US states on a tense election day, including that none had been credible however many appeared to come back from Russia.
In a single space of the battleground state of Georgia, police reported 32 bomb threats towards polling locations, a few of which briefly suspended operations whereas authorities looked for explosives.
Additionally learn: US elections 2024 voting LIVE: Donald Trump wins Florida and surpasses Kamala Harris by closing the primary polls
The 2024 US presidential marketing campaign has been significantly unstable, and safety for Election Day has been heightened given considerations about potential civil unrest, election rigging and violence towards ballot staff.
“The FBI is conscious of bomb threats to polling locations in a number of states, lots of which seem to come back from Russian e-mail domains,” spokeswoman Savannah Syms mentioned in an announcement.
“Thus far, not one of the threats have been thought of credible,” he added, urging the general public to “stay vigilant.”
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger mentioned the state had recognized Russia because the supply of the bomb threats, with out elaborating.
32 polling stations in Georgia’s Fulton County, which incorporates Atlanta, the state’s largest metropolis, had been amongst these going through threats, county Sheriff Wade Yate informed reporters.
He added that 5 websites had been briefly closed whereas authorities looked for explosives, however discovered nothing.
“Not one of the polling areas had been closed for greater than half-hour,” mentioned South Fulton Mayor Kobi. AFP exterior considered one of them: Feldwood Elementary College in South Fulton.
“There are some people who find themselves making an attempt to discourage individuals in South Fulton from voting, however we’re the blackest metropolis in America,” he mentioned.
“We’re descendants, little kids of people that confronted lynchings, water cannons… to train the suitable to vote. And that’s the reason we’re not going to permit bomb threats to make us change course.”
‘It smelled like gas’
With Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump deadlocked within the climax of the 2024 race, officers are wanting to reassure nervous People that their votes are protected. However they’ve additionally bolstered bodily safety for electoral operations all through the nation.
Ballot staff have been fitted with panic buttons, particular weapons groups have been deployed to rooftops and lots of of Nationwide Guard personnel have been positioned on alert.
The FBI established a nationwide election command submit in Washington to observe threats 24 hours a day throughout election week.
America Capitol Police, who defend the headquarters of Congress in Washington, arrested a person on Tuesday (Nov. 5, 2024) who “smelled of gas” and was carrying a lighter and accelerator.
He was detained within the Capitol customer middle, a part of the complicated that was stormed by Trump supporters in a lethal riot on January 6, 2021, as they tried to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden.
Police Chief J. Thomas Manger later mentioned at a information convention that the person had “paperwork” he meant to ship to Congress and that it was unclear whether or not he deliberate to set himself on fireplace.
“There is no such thing as a indication, at this level, that it had something to do with the election,” he mentioned.
The bomb threats weren’t the primary time U.S. officers pointed the finger at Russian interference in the course of the vote.
Hours earlier than polls opened, officers warned that Russia-linked disinformation operations had falsely claimed that makes an attempt had been being made in battleground states to fraudulently affect the result of the election.
Printed – Nov 6, 2024 09:23 am IST
