Multiple city, county and school buildings around Springfield were closed Thursday after a bomb threat “to multiple facilities throughout Springfield,” according to a city statement released Thursday morning. Springfield City Hall was evacuated around 8:30 a.m.

Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said everyone who was in the City Hall building was moved out and is safe. Rue would not comment on the precise language of the threat but said it came from someone claiming to be from Springfield, and mentioned frustration with the city related to Haitian immigration issues.

All Clark County buildings were also closed to the public, “out of an abundance of caution,” which includes all commission departments, the Department of Job and Family Services, the Common Pleas Court, the Board of Elections and the A.B. Graham Building, according to a statement released at 11:45 a.m. The county said it would update the public with more closures “as they become available.”

Drivers license bureaus in Clark County were also closed Thursday morning in relation to the threats, according to Clark County Clerk of Courts Melissa Tuttle.

Springfield City Schools evacuated students from Fulton Elementary on Thursday morning. Parents said they were told to pick up their children, and a police officer outside Fulton told concerned parents that their children had been moved to Springfield High School. Springfield City Schools issued a brief statement at 10:40 a.m.

“Based on information received from the State Fire Marshal, Fulton students were evacuated from their building to Springfield High School this morning,” school officials said. “Students and staff are safe; however, the district is in the process of a controlled release to safely dismiss students to their parents.”

  • Heikki@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    2 months ago

    I wonder how many of these immigrants were sent by red states bussing them north.

    • RunningInRVA@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      I don’t think it is too much of that case based on a bit of preliminary reading. They appear to like it for job opportunities and low cost housing. From the Dayton Daily News:

      One big question: Why did Haitians start moving to Springfield in the first place?

      Reporter Lynn Husley, who has extensively covered the Haitian community there, says this: “They are attracted to a community that has plentiful job opportunities and supportive services for them.”

      Hulsey says sources she has interviewed report those who come to Springfield will tell their family and friends back home they can find affordable living in Springfield as well.