Springfield, Ohio, evacuated its city hall on Thursday after a bomb threat, just two days after Donald Trump repeated a false claim about immigrants in the city.
Local officials did not say if the threat was linked to Trump’s comments. The city government announced on social media, “City Hall is closed today due to a bomb threat made to several facilities in Springfield.”
Police cars were seen outside city hall, but there were no major disruptions. The small city of 62,000 has been in the national spotlight after Trump and other Republicans falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating pets.
City officials have denied these claims, stating there have been no reports of such incidents.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally. (AP photo)
Around 15,000 Haitian immigrants have moved to Springfield in recent years, boosting the local economy. Although the influx has put pressure on schools and social services, wages have increased, and crime rates remain steady.
Haitian American leaders are concerned about their safety after Trump claimed during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris that immigrants were “eating the dogs and cats” in the city. The rumor appears to have started from unverified social media posts and has no evidence.
Ohio Senator JD Vance repeated the false claim on CNBC, saying Haitian immigrants were harming life in Springfield. However, a 2021 study by the Cato Institute found that Haitian immigrants are more likely to be employed and are contributing to the local economy.
(with inputs from Reuters)
