Springfield City Hall evacuated after bomb threat

The city hall of Springfield, Ohio, was evacuated Thursday after a bomb threat that comes as the city has become a national focus over racist conspiracy theories about immigrants eating pets.

“Due to a bomb threat that was issued to multiple facilities throughout Springfield today, City Hall is closed today,” the city government said in a post on Facebook. “City of Springfield received a bomb threat that has prompted an immediate response from local and regional law enforcement. As a precautionary measure, the building has been evacuated, and authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation.”

The bomb threat follows the recent popularity of false claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets in the Ohio city, allegations that have been elevated by former President Trump and his 2024 running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R).

“What they have done to our country by allowing these millions and millions of people to come into our country — and look at what’s happening to the towns [in the] United States. A lot of towns don’t want to talk,” Trump said at Tuesday’s presidential debate. “Not going to be Aurora [or] Springfield. A lot of towns don’t want to talk about it, because they’re so embarrassed by it. In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs.”

City officials have denied any reports such pet-consuming incidents.

According to the Thursday Facebook post from the Ohio city’s government, Springfield “officials were alerted to this threat” by way of “an email message this morning at 8:24 am.” The post said “multiple agencies and media outlets” were among those whom the email was directed to.

“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,” the post reads. “We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work through this matter.”

Reached for comment, the Springfield Police Division referred questions to the city manager’s office.

The seeds of Springfield’s turn in the national spotlight were planted at a pro-Nazi march through the town on Aug. 10 and a subsequent City Commission meeting on Aug. 27.

Republicans have widely shared the testimony of local resident Anthony Harris at the meeting, claiming he’d witnessed Haitians hunting park ducks for food; other residents discussed the pros and cons of immigration, including calls to lower the tone.

But the hearing also featured a speaker who claimed to have been “at the head of the anti-Haitian immigration march.”

That speaker used an alias alluding to a racial slur and identified himself as a member of Blood Tribe — a neo-Nazi hate group — and claimed “crime and savagery” would rise with further immigration.

He was shut down and asked to leave the room by Mayor Rob Rue for making threatening statements.

“You’re done, thank you. Thank you so much. Not really thank you, but,” Rue said before moving on to the next speaker.

Updated at 11:57 a.m. EDT