Several bomb threats were received Thursday in the D.C. area, as cities nationwide received similar messages. A number of the threats were sent by email and demanded bitcoin ransom, officials said. News4’s Cory Smith has the story.
What to Know
- Law enforcement authorities around the United States are responding to a wave of bomb threats, many of them sent by email.
- Multiple police departments said the threats were not credible.
Police in the D.C. area are responding to a rash of bomb threats on Thursday amid a string of similar threats in multiple states.
Law enforcement authorities around the United States are responding to a number of bomb threats, many of them sent by email. Threats were received in states including California, Connecticut, Florida, New York and Massachusetts.
D.C. police say each of the threats in the District were "received via email requesting bitcoin ransom." No one complied with the demands, police said in a statement.
"This is an issue that is being reported in other cities nationwide and is not considered credible at this time," Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
Still, anyone who receives a threat or sees suspicious activity is asked to call 911.
Bomb Threats Emailed to DMV
Source: NBCWashington
Law enforcement agencies across the country said the bomb threats sent to dozens of schools, government buildings and other locations appear to be a hoax. Officials dismissed the threats, which they said were meant to cause disruption and compel recipients into sending money.
Some of the emails had the subject line: "Think Twice." The sender claimed to have had an associate plant a small bomb in the recipient's building and that the only way to stop him from setting it off was by making an online payment of $20,000 in bitcoin.
In D.C., police say threats were reported at five locations across the city: in the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE, the 1100 block of New Jersey Avenue SE, the 300 block of G Street SE, the 2400 block of 37th Street NW and the 1600 block of K Street NW.
Building evacuations left office workers and residents out standing in the cold.
In Virginia, Arlington County police say two buildings received threats via email: one in the 4300 block of Wilson Boulevard in Ballston and another in the 1900 block of S. Eads Street in Crystal City. Occupants of the buildings self-evacuated.
Arlington police said the threats were not credible but did not immediately say how they determined that. They said they believe the messages are part of the nationwide series of threats.
Police in the City of Fairfax said they investigated two cases and determined they posed no threats to either location. They did not identify the exact locations.
Local
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Leesburg police said they were aware of "several bomb threats directed at local establishments."
In Maryland, the University of Maryland Police Department said departments across campus received the same bomb threat emails and that, although they are a hoax, the deparment is investigating.
Montgomery County Police confirmed that they were handling several reports of bomb threats across the county, but they did not immediately provide addresses. They also said they believe the messages were connected to the national wave of bomb threats Thursday.
Frederick police said they received bomb threats related to the 100 block of South East Street, first block of West Patrick Street and 100 block of West Patrick Street. Officers determined the locations to be safe.
In a statement, the FBI said they were aware of the bomb threats made in cities around the country, and they are in touch with law enforcement partners.
"As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety," the FBI's statement read in part.
Stay with NBC Washington and NBC4 for more on this developing story.
