UPDATE:
No explosives were found during a sweep by deputy sheriffs of the Hawaii State Capitol after a bomb threat forced an evacuation and closure Wednesday morning.
The “Capitol is clear and safe to enter,” Cathy S. Lee, director of communications for the House majority, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The Department of Law Enforcement in a news release confirmed a “bomb threat was emailed to certain members of the Senate relating to explosives being placed at the Hawaii State Capitol Building.”
“The Sheriffs Division was contacted at about 6:40 a.m. HST today,” wrote Wayne Ibarra, spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement. “The Hawaii State Capitol was evacuated and the building was searched by deputies along with its Special Operations explosive detection K-9 units. No explosives device or material was found.”
The Capitol reopened at about 9:30 a.m.
Similar threats have been sent to multiple State Capitol buildings across the country.
The Associated Press reported that federal officials dismissed the threats as a hoax. Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana were among the other states that evacuated statehouse offices or buildings. Several states — including Wyoming, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri and Maryland — received threats, but didn’t close.
The FBI said it was aware of numerous hoax bomb threats at state Capitol buildings, but had “no information to indicate a specific and credible threat.” The bureau said it was working with state, local and federal law enforcement to gather, share and act on information.
“The FBI takes hoax threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk,” it said in a statement.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
The Hawaii State Capitol was evacuated Wednesday morning and staff told to stay home after bomb threats were made to state capitols around the country.
“This morning, bomb threats were directed at the Hawaii State Capitol, as well as several other State Capitols nationwide. The Capitol was evacuated, and staff were instructed to remain at home until further notice. The building is undergoing a thorough sweep by law enforcement officials, and we are awaiting additional information. Ensuring the safety of everyone remains our priority at this moment,” Cathy S. Lee, director of communications for the House Majority told the Star-Advertiser in a statement.
The Associated Press reported earlier Wednesday that multiple state capitols received bomb threats this morning that led to brief evacuations or lockdowns as police investigated, but no evidence of explosives was found.
The closures were brief in most states.
The warnings came after a spate of false reports of shootings at the homes of public officials in recent days.
Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana were among the states that evacuated statehouse offices or buildings. Lawmakers in Kentucky and Mississippi have begun meeting in legislative sessions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
