HINGHAM, MASS. (WHDH) - The Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center is tracking multiple bomb threats that were emailed to businesses across the Bay State on Thursday.
The agency’s bomb squad has been notified and local emergency crews are being dispatched to impacted businesses in their communities, state police said.
The announcement from state police came less than an hour after S. David White Real Estate and East Coast Investigative Services in Hingham were evacuated after receiving bomb threats.
A copy of the threatening email sent to S. David White Real Estate was obtained by 7’s Byron Barnett. It read, “There is a bomb in the building where your company is located. It was built under my direction. It can be hidden anywhere because of its small size. My man is controlling the situation around the building. If any unusual behavior or police are notified the bomb will be exploded. I can withdraw my mercenary if you pay $20,000. That is the cost of your safety. Pay it to me in Bitcoin and the device will not detonate.”
Jim Collins, the owner of East Coast Investigative Services, says he received a similar email.
“I was cleaning out my emails and I got a strange email, which was obviously threatening, he said. “It indicated that the person writing the email had their agent hide a small bomb in our building. It said they wanted $20,000 by the end of business today or they were going to detonate the bomb, blow up the building and injure everyone inside.”
Threats were also confirmed in Concord, Chelmsford, Dartmouth, Pepperell, Braintree, Cambridge, at the Boston Opera House and at the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that it is monitoring threats and working closely with local law enforcement.
“We are aware of the recent bomb threats made in cities around the country, and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety,” the statement said.
Across the country, some schools closed early and others were evacuated or placed on lockdown because of threats. Authorities said a threat emailed to a school in Troy, Missouri, about 55 miles northeast of St. Louis, was sent from Russia.
The bomb threats also prompted evacuations at city hall in Aurora, Illinois, the offices of the News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, a suburban Atlanta courthouse and businesses in Detroit.
“Organizations nationwide, both public and private, have reported receiving emailed bomb threats today,” Michigan State Police spokeswoman Shannon Banner said. “They are not targeted toward any one specific sector.”
Penn State University notified students via a text alert about threats to a half-dozen buildings and an airport on its main campus in State College, Pennsylvania.
All of the threats appear to be hoaxes, according to investigators.
MSP and partner agencies on federal and local levels are conducting risk assessment procedures regarding the threats and will determine appropriate responses. NO indications of any explosives located or detonated to this point. We will continue to communicate info when available. https://t.co/fPXhNy2vPF
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) December 13, 2018
MSP Fusion Center tracking multiple bomb threats emailed to numerous businesses in the state. MSP Bomb Squad notified and local departments are responding in their communities. Similar threats have been received in other states. We will share more info when available.
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) December 13, 2018
Happening now-We’re on scene investigating bomb threats at two Hingham businesses (1 Derby St. and 33 Central St.). Both have been evacuated. No further info available now. Active investigation. #Hingham
— Hingham Police (@HinghamPolice) December 13, 2018
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