Idaho Capitol briefly evacuated after bomb threat about presidential election

Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — A threatening email astir nan statesmanlike predetermination sparked an alarming connection sent by an Idaho Capitol building alert strategy that told Capitol labor to evacuate immediately.

Some Capitol workers received an alert that instructed them to time off nan Boise building astatine 9:05 a.m. Monday, according to authorities police.

“Capitol Security: EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT A TEST,” said nan alert, which was shared pinch nan Idaho Statesman. “THIS IS NOT A TEST. An emergency has occurred successful nan Capitol. DO NOT RETURN until you person received nan All Clear Alert.”

State constabulary spokesperson Aaron Snell said nan Capitol received an email Monday that said a group would spot a explosive astatine nan Capitol building if Democratic campaigner Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t triumph nan November statesmanlike election. Snell said nan threat wasn’t immediate. Idaho State Police cleared nan building wrong nan hour.

“Unfortunately, it was taken arsenic a direct, contiguous threat,” Snell told nan Statesman by phone.

Idaho State Police did not nonstop nan alert and troopers were moving pinch Capitol management to get much accusation connected who sent nan alert and why it was issued, Snell said.

The Statehouse’s management agency did not supply nan Statesman pinch further information.

Snell said nan email seemed “generic” and akin to a erstwhile explosive threat received by nan Capitol earlier this month. That threat turned retired to person been sent to addresses successful aggregate states connected Aug. 15. Idaho State Police deemed nan spot safe aft nary devices were found.

“While these types of calls aren’t specifically tracked, they person increased,” Snell wrote successful an email to nan Statesman pursuing nan first threat. “Typically, ISP responds to 3 to 4 incidents a year. While each incident is treated arsenic a existent threat, to date, thing suspicious has been located.”