On Saturday, Springfield, Ohio, faced a new wave of bomb threats targeting three medical facilities—Springfield Regional Medical Center, Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital, and Kettering Health Springfield—along with a fourth unspecified site.
Authorities have swept and cleared the locations, with some already reopening, according to police. The Springfield Police Division has increased staffing in response to these threats, which are linked to unverified claims about the Haitian migrant community. On Friday, two elementary schools were evacuated, and a middle school was closed due to an emailed threat. Officials released students to their parents, and it remains unclear if Friday’s threat came from the same source as Thursday’s.
On Thursday, bomb threats were emailed to various agencies and media outlets in Springfield. Explosive-detecting K-9s assisted police in clearing affected sites, including elementary schools, City Hall, and driver’s license bureaus. The county court facilities were also inspected as a precaution. The FBI is collaborating with local police to trace the threat’s origin.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue expressed concern over the fear generated by these threats, attributing them to false online rumors about Haitian migrants allegedly abducting pets. These rumors have been amplified by political figures, including former President Donald Trump. A spokesperson for Springfield confirmed that there are no credible reports of harm or illegal activities involving immigrants.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance criticized these claims as inflammatory and harmful. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has pledged additional resources to Springfield. Mayor Rue urged national figures to consider the impact of their words on communities like Springfield, emphasizing that they are causing more harm than good.
