Since last week Thursday, there have been over 80 bomb threat calls in Jamaica, leading to the suspension of classes at schools and closure of businesses. The authorities are taking every threat seriously and responding accordingly. The criminals behind the threats are believed to be technologically savvy and are using platforms like Instagram, email, and telephone calls to issue the threats. The police and other agencies are working to bring the responsible individuals to justice. The authorities are considering expanding their team and acquiring additional resources, such as explosive-detecting dogs, to better respond to such threats in the future.
In Malaysia, the Education Ministry has urged all educational institutions to adhere strictly to security procedures and comply with directives issued by authorities following a series of false bomb threats at private and government schools. The police have received 19 reports of false bomb threats in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan. The ministry is committed to prioritizing the safety of students, teachers, and staff and will work closely with the police to ensure security measures are in place [1753de6c].
Several airports in France, including Beauvais, Nantes, Biarritz, Toulouse, Lille, and Lyon-Bron, were evacuated due to anonymous bomb threats. The evacuations were carried out for security reasons. The Louvre Museum in Paris was also temporarily closed for security reasons. In the Philippines, heightened security measures were implemented at 42 commercial airports following a bomb threat received via email. No flights were disrupted and no bombs were found. In the United States, a man from Peru was arrested for sending over 150 fake bomb threats to schools, airports, hospitals, shopping centers, and synagogues. The threats were made after teenage girls refused to send explicit pictures to the man. The man was arrested in Lima and is facing charges for his actions. Paris police opened fire on a woman who allegedly made death threats and spoke in support of terrorism on a train heading into the French capital. The incident occurred amidst heightened anti-terror alert in France following a fatal stabbing at a school on October 13. The woman's remarks were described as having an Islamist nature, and phrases she used included 'You're all going to get it,' 'Allahu akbar,' and 'Boom.' The woman, who was not carrying ID papers, had previously been arrested for threatening behavior in 2021 and had been hospitalized for mental health problems. The incident comes after the October 13 attack in Arras, where a French-language teacher was stabbed to death by an individual under police surveillance for suspected Islamic radicalization.
Dozens of schools in the Bordeaux region of France were closed or evacuated due to false bomb threats. Malicious emails were sent to school staff members, demanding a ransom of ten million euros to be paid into a Canadian bank account. The email claims that hidden bombs are present in multiple establishments. This same email has been used in the past. The act of spreading false information about a dangerous destruction or damage is punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros [66a1952b].
Nine state capitols in the United States were targeted with bomb threats, just a day after several lawmakers were hit by swatting pranks. The threats were made via phone calls and caused evacuations and heightened security measures. The authorities are investigating the incidents and working to ensure the safety of the state capitols. This comes as part of a series of bomb threats and security incidents occurring in multiple countries [4cc5da70].
Zimbabwean police have arrested a South African national, Cuan Reed Govender (26), in connection with a bomb scare at Victoria Falls International Airport. Govender was apprehended at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after suspicious items, including bullets, were found in his luggage. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson confirmed the arrest and stated that Govender is believed to be responsible for the bomb scare. However, government sources have contradicted this, claiming that the suspect is an Israeli who sent the threatening email from Israel. The incident caused disruptions at the airport, with flights suspended for a portion of Friday morning. As the investigation continues, Zimbabweans have taken to social media to express their opinions, with some demanding that President Mnangagwa experience the nation’s infrastructure challenges firsthand by traveling via road. Authorities are working to bring closure to the incident and ensure the safety of all travelers and airport personnel. [32d982cb]
A security scare at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell, FL, was resolved when a suspicious package, which turned out to be a box of newspapers from the Palm Coast Observer, was discovered. The package, found during a morning security check and seen on security footage delivered overnight, prompted an evacuation of the courthouse and surrounding areas. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office established a Mobile Command Center and sought assistance from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad. The bomb squad confirmed the package's innocuous contents, allowing courthouse operations to resume. Sheriff Rick Staly praised the coordinated response and highlighted the incident as a testament to the effectiveness of security measures in place. [3ab32799]
Papua New Guinea police in Eastern Highlands are investigating a bomb threat that was sent via an email to the Goroka courthouse. The email from someone by the name of 'Adams Jailer' stated that a 'bomb will detonate at Goroka Court house today' and was signed off as 'Kumul'. Police were deployed to clear the courthouse area and are investigating the incident. This is a new trend of sending threats electronically in Papua New Guinea. [0e840643]
A bomb threat was issued to the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee in Ireland, leading to the evacuation of her family. The threats were made in two late-night phone calls during the week, and although McEntee was not at home, the police felt it necessary to move her husband and young family to safety as a precaution. The call is believed to have been made by a man in the Cork area, but no explosives were found at the address and no code word was used during the call. An investigation is currently underway, and the police have declined to comment further. A third threatening phone call was made against Minister for Justice Helen McEntee on Saturday night. The call, which directly threatened the Minister, was made to the Samaritans helpline. This is the third such threatening call to be made in less than a week, sparking another security alert for specialist gardaĂ. Two previous phone calls were made on Wednesday, leading to a major Garda investigation and the evacuation of the Minister's husband and children from her family home. The spokesperson for the Samaritans declined to comment for security reasons. The recent conviction of Michael Murray, who made a threatening phone call to the Samaritans directed at the Minister, is also mentioned. Murray claimed he did not make the bomb threat and that the allegation against him does not make sense. An Garda SĂochána declined to comment on the latest threat made against Minister McEntee. [b2a7cfe2]
James Thomas Andrew McCarty, a 21-year-old man from Kayenta, Arizona, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for swatting schools and homes across multiple states. McCarty pleaded guilty to hoax call-related charges and aggravated identity theft. In one case, he breached a victim's Ring home security account, called the police, and falsely claimed to be the victim's husband who had committed murder and rigged explosives at the home. He livestreamed the law enforcement response and found it funny. McCarty also made hoax calls to high schools in Indiana and Oklahoma, claiming he was outside with weapons ready to attack. He used the name of an actual homeowner in two calls to police, claiming he killed his wife and had bombs planted outside a retail location. Swatting is the act of faking an emergency to draw a response from law enforcement. The sentencing occurred in June 2024. [1fe85507]