WASHINGTON: Bomb threats had been made towards a number of Maryland boards of elections and election workplaces in not less than two California counties on Friday (Nov 8), state authorities mentioned, including that everybody was protected and legislation enforcement officers had been investigating.
Election officers had been counting mail-in ballots when the threats got here in Maryland. State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis mentioned the threats led to the evacuation of some buildings. He known as the threats “cowardly”, including that native officers will resume relying on Saturday.
“Security is a prime concern – however we WILL resume canvassing (counting) tomorrow. Cowardly threats whether or not from overseas or not shall not deter us,” DeMarinis mentioned on social media platform X.
“The Baltimore County Police Division is conscious and at the moment investigating the bomb menace acquired by way of e mail by the Baltimore County Board of Elections Workplace,” police posted on X, later including {that a} probe decided that menace to be unfounded.
In California’s Orange County, the registrar of voters acquired a bomb menace at an workplace in Santa Ana after which the workplace constructing was evacuated and bomb detection canines had been used to conduct a search. No explosives had been situated, officers mentioned, including that standard operations will resume on Saturday.
The registrar of voters in California’s Riverside County mentioned its central counting constructing was additionally evacuated resulting from a menace and a bomb squad discovered no explosives.
The workplaces of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Maryland Governor Wes Moore mentioned they had been monitoring the scenario and dealing with native officers.
Republican Donald Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s presidential election. Counting continued in elements of the nation in native, congressional and presidential races.
The FBI mentioned that hoax bomb threats, lots of which appeared to originate from Russian e mail domains, had been directed on Tuesday at polling places in 5 battleground states – Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – as voting was below means. Russia denies interfering in US elections.
Forward of the elections, officers had braced for threats arising from misinformation and conspiracy theories in regards to the vote.