NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) — Authorities are investigating a rash of bomb threats made to numerous locations across Hampton Roads Thursday.
Christina Pullen, the Public Affairs Officer of FBI Norfolk, stated that the FBI is aware of the bomb threats made and is working with law enforcement.
"We are aware of the recent bomb threats made in cities around the country, including in Hampton Roads, 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," Pullen said in a statement.
According to dispatchers, two bomb threats were made at the World Trade Center and the Chrysler Museum within half an hour of each other. The World Trade Center is being evacuated.
Here is the raw interview with the Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art, Erik Neil:
According to the Public Information Officer from the Norfolk Police Department, the following locations in Norfolk have all received email bomb threats:
- Keim Center at 2121 Colonial Ave received a threat at 1:35 p.m.
- World Trade Center at 101 W. Main St received a threat at 1:43 p.m.
- SL Nusbaum at 440 Monticello received a threat at 1:51 p.m.
- Chrysler Museum at 245 W. Only Rd received a threat at 2:18 p.m.
- Dominion Tower at 999 Waterside Dr received a threat at 2:36 p.m.
- 2000 block of Kenlake Pl, a home-based business, received a threat at 2:33 p.m.
- Shephards Way at 805 Park Av received a threat at 2:49 p.m.
Each email prompted the business to call Norfolk Police. Police have responded and are searching and investigating. According to the public information officer, no threat has been found.
Threats were made in Virginia Beach at the following locations:
- Hebrew Academy at 5000 Corporate Woods Dr. (Cleared by police)
- Hilton Hotel at the Oceanfront (Cleared by police)
- The Breeden Company at 500 Lynnhaven Parkway
According to officials at the Hilton Hotel at the Oceanfront, the email threat was asking for Bit-Coin currency. The email was sent from something or someone with a non-legible email address.
Police are also working to learn more about a number of bomb threats e-mailed to different locations in Newport News, including the following:
- City Hall at 2400 Washington Ave.
- Bayport Credit Union at 1 Bayport Way
- The Tourism Office at Town Center at 702 Town Center
- Interstate Warehouse at 121 Hardwood Drive
- N.News Water Works at 700 Town Center Drive
- Bank of America located at 12350 Jefferson Ave.
- Keller Williams Realty at 804 Omney Blvd.
- Advantage Auto at 5983 Jefferson Ave.
According to the City of Newport News, all threats have been given the all clear. No bombs were found at any of the locations.
The spokeswoman for Newport News, Kim Lee, released the following statement about the threats:
This afternoon bomb threat emails were sent in to 10 locations in Newport News including government offices and private businesses throughout the city. Police and Fire crews responded and determined that all of the threats were unfounded. We are not releasing the specific locations except to acknowledge what has already been reported which is that City Hall was one of the buildings and it was evacuated for a short period of time this afternoon. We are working with state and federal officials to further investigate the threats. This is all the information available to release.
A threat was made to the Central Library at 1025 Executive Drive in Chesapeake.
The York Animal Hospital at 4628 George Washington Memorial Highway in Yorktown received a threat around 3 p.m.
In Portsmouth, Portsmouth Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services responded to the 2500 block of Detroit Street at A.D. Stowe, Inc. for a threat that came in at 2 p.m.
Suffolk's Fire Marshal's Office released the following statement about their investigation into the emailed threats:
The Suffolk Fire Marshal’s Office has confirmed that email threats similar to those reported across Hampton Roads and nationally were sent to various Suffolk Public Schools’ email accounts today. These emails reference payment in Bitcoins to prevent repercussions. Currently, the Suffolk Fire Marshal’s Office has found the threats to be non-credible. The incident remains under investigation.
13News Now is working to gather more details on each location that was targeted and how police are responding.
Stay with 13News Now for more on this developing story.
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