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Bomb threats close schools, offices after false rumors about Haitians in Ohio spread online

An emailed threat on Friday said bombs would be detonated at Springfield City Hall, four schools, an office of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a licensing bureau, while a city spokesperson said a second email threatened officials by name

Bomb threats close schools, offices after false rumors about Haitians in Ohio spread online

An emailed threat on Friday said bombs would be detonated at Springfield City Hall, four schools, an office of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a licensing bureau, while a city spokesperson said a second email threatened officials by name

RIGHT WING RADICAL THEORIES. OKAY, SO SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION, OF COURSE, MATTERS TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE IN SPRINGFIELD. THE CITY OF CLOSE TO 60,000 PEOPLE BETWEEN DAYTON AND COLUMBUS AND WLWT NEWS 5 TODD -- IS LIVE WITH THAT ASSIGNMENT TONIGHT. REACTION TO WHAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAID DURING THE DEBATE. HI THERE, TODD. YEAH. HI, MIKE. AND YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE EVERY CITY THESE DAYS, THERE ARE YARD SIGNS AND POLITICAL FLAGS FLYING HERE IN SPRINGFIELD THAT REFLECT AMERICA’S CURRENT POLITICAL DIVIDE, THAT DIVIDE SEEMED TO GET A LITTLE DISTORTED DURING LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE. AMONG THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WATCHED VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS DEBATE, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS DENISE WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE SPRINGFIELD NAACP. DISGUST, DISGUST, EMBARRASSED. OUTRAGED. THAT’S HOW WILLIAMS FELT WHEN TRUMP MADE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS THAT IMMIGRANTS, NOTABLY FROM WAR TORN HAITI, HAVE BEEN STEALING PEOPLE’S PETS IN SPRINGFIELD AND CONSUMING THEM AS FOOD. THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS REPEATING FALSE INFORMATION THAT’S BEEN CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE NEWS STORY REGARDING A CAT BEING KILLED AND CONSUMED DID NOT ORIGINATE IN SPRINGFIELD. IT ACTUALLY INVOLVED A CANTON WOMAN WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY LAST MONTH. IT IS EXTREMELY DISGUSTING TO HAVE SOMEONE RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO FEED INTO THIS FALSE NARRATIVE. WHAT’S TRUE IS THAT SPRINGFIELD HAS SEEN A SURGE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WHICH HAS LED TO EXPLOSIVE POPULATION GROWTH, PUTTING PRESSURE ON CITY SERVICES. OTHER CONCERNS CENTER ON HAITIANS WHO ARE DRIVING ON SPRINGFIELD STREETS WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN RULES OF THE ROAD. THOSE ARE THE ISSUES ELECTED LEADERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE FOCUSED ON, NOT STOLEN PETS. AFTER THE ELECTION IS OVER AND EVERYONE’S DONE USING SPRINGFIELD, OHIO AS A TALKING POINT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM. WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE LEFT TO LIVE OUT THE CHALLENGES AND FIND THE SOLUTIONS. NOW, EARLIER THIS WEEK, OHIO SENATOR AND GOP VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE J.D. VANCE, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT PETS BEING SWIPED FROM NEIGHBORS YARDS HERE IN SPRINGFIELD. TODAY, LOCAL NAACP PRESIDENT DENISE WILLIAMS SAID VANCE OWES THE CITY AN APOLOGY. REPORTING LIVE TONIGHT HERE IN
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Bomb threats close schools, offices after false rumors about Haitians in Ohio spread online

An emailed threat on Friday said bombs would be detonated at Springfield City Hall, four schools, an office of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a licensing bureau, while a city spokesperson said a second email threatened officials by name

Bomb threats prompted the evacuation of schools and government buildings for a second day on Friday in an Ohio community that has been the focus of unwanted attention after former President Donald Trump amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants are abducting and eating pets.Related video above: Springfield in national spotlight — City reacts to newfound, unwanted attentionAn emailed threat said bombs had been planted in the homes of Springfield's mayor and other city officials, said Karen Graves, a city spokesperson. A second email said that bombs would be detonated at locations including Springfield City Hall, a high school, a middle school, two elementary schools, a local office of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a licensing bureau.The buildings were evacuated, and authorities with explosive-detection dogs swept and cleared them, officials said."We are committed to the safety and well-being of our community and take all threats to public safety with the utmost seriousness," Graves said. "We are currently collaborating with the Dayton office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the origin of these email threats."The Springfield City School District said in a statement Friday that "all threats to the Springfield City School District are taken seriously and will be prosecuted at the highest levels. The district's messaging to families continues to be one of gratitude for their patience and understanding as our Wildcat Family navigates these events."The threatening emails referenced an influx of thousands of Haitian immigrants into the predominantly white, blue-collar city of about 60,000, about 45 miles from the state capital of Columbus.At Tuesday's presidential candidate debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump repeated debunked claims about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs. Trump's comments echoed similar claims made by his campaign, including his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and other Republicans, including one that immigrants are eating fowl snatched from public parks.In March, unsubstantiated rumors started circulating that three Haitian men were seen in a Springfield park grabbing a duck and a goose. In recent days, a sign was posted at the park saying "Please Do Not Eat The Ducks."Workers on Friday removed the unauthorized sign, which looked professionally made, said Brad Boyer, the deputy director of the National Trails Parks and Recreation District.In an interview with NewsNation on Friday, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said the claims are "just untrue" and cast the city in a negative light."Springfield is still beautiful, and your pets are safe," he said. "There's a lot of frenzy on the internet, but this is not what we're seeing. It's a bit frustrating."Rue acknowledged the immigrant influx is straining police, hospitals and schools. He said the city asked for help several months ago."There is a culture clash, and we see it, and we know it," he said. "And the federal leaders who had the national stage did not help us solve this problem."This week, Gov. Mike DeWine pledged $2.5 million over two years to provide more primary health care through Springfield's home county and private institutions, while the Ohio State Highway Patrol will help local law enforcement with traffic issues that officials say have cropped up due to an increase in Haitians unfamiliar with U.S. traffic laws.

Bomb threats prompted the evacuation of schools and government buildings for a second day on Friday in an Ohio community that has been the focus of unwanted attention after former President Donald Trump amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants are abducting and eating pets.

Related video above: Springfield in national spotlight — City reacts to newfound, unwanted attention

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An emailed threat said bombs had been planted in the homes of Springfield's mayor and other city officials, said Karen Graves, a city spokesperson. A second email said that bombs would be detonated at locations including Springfield City Hall, a high school, a middle school, two elementary schools, a local office of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a licensing bureau.

The buildings were evacuated, and authorities with explosive-detection dogs swept and cleared them, officials said.

"We are committed to the safety and well-being of our community and take all threats to public safety with the utmost seriousness," Graves said. "We are currently collaborating with the Dayton office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the origin of these email threats."

The Springfield City School District said in a statement Friday that "all threats to the Springfield City School District are taken seriously and will be prosecuted at the highest levels. The district's messaging to families continues to be one of gratitude for their patience and understanding as our Wildcat Family navigates these events."

The threatening emails referenced an influx of thousands of Haitian immigrants into the predominantly white, blue-collar city of about 60,000, about 45 miles from the state capital of Columbus.

At Tuesday's presidential candidate debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump repeated debunked claims about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs. Trump's comments echoed similar claims made by his campaign, including his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and other Republicans, including one that immigrants are eating fowl snatched from public parks.

In March, unsubstantiated rumors started circulating that three Haitian men were seen in a Springfield park grabbing a duck and a goose. In recent days, a sign was posted at the park saying "Please Do Not Eat The Ducks."

Workers on Friday removed the unauthorized sign, which looked professionally made, said Brad Boyer, the deputy director of the National Trails Parks and Recreation District.

In an interview with NewsNation on Friday, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said the claims are "just untrue" and cast the city in a negative light.

"Springfield is still beautiful, and your pets are safe," he said. "There's a lot of frenzy on the internet, but this is not what we're seeing. It's a bit frustrating."

Rue acknowledged the immigrant influx is straining police, hospitals and schools. He said the city asked for help several months ago.

"There is a culture clash, and we see it, and we know it," he said. "And the federal leaders who had the national stage did not help us solve this problem."

This week, Gov. Mike DeWine pledged $2.5 million over two years to provide more primary health care through Springfield's home county and private institutions, while the Ohio State Highway Patrol will help local law enforcement with traffic issues that officials say have cropped up due to an increase in Haitians unfamiliar with U.S. traffic laws.