Springfield, Ohio Schools Evacuated Over Unspecified Threat (original) (raw)

Schools in Springfield, Ohio, were evacuated again Friday morning, a day after bomb threats closed city buildings, a courthouse and at least one elementary school. Friday's evacuations were based on "information" that was received by police, according to local media reports.

Students from two elementary schools were moved and one middle school was closed.

Students were moved to alternative locations or sent home, the Springfield News-Sun reported.

The evacuations and threats come after former President Donald Trump thrust the city into the national spotlight during Tuesday's debate, repeating unfounded claims that members of Springfield's Haitian migrant community were killing and eating residents' pets.

A man walks past the Springfield City Hall, Ohio, after bomb threats were made against buildings earlier in the day. A government building and schools were evacuated. A man walks past the Springfield City Hall, Ohio, after bomb threats were made against buildings earlier in the day. A government building and schools were evacuated. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

On Friday, students at Perrin Woods and Snowhill Elementary schools were taken to different locations, while Roosevelt Middle School was closed before the school day started.

Springfield Police Department had sent Springfield City School District information on an unspecified threat which prompted the move Friday.

Newsweek reached out to the district and city officials Friday morning for comment.

On Thursday, Springfield's city hall and other municipal buildings were closed after bomb threats were received via email.

Fulton Elementary School was also evacuated due to the threats made Thursday, with the district later putting out a statement on Facebook.

"There were no additional threats made to any SCSD buildings," the statement read.

"The District is thankful for our Fulton families and students who did everything asked of them today, including picking up their child from the high school in the middle of the school day. We are additionally thankful for the swift actions of our teachers, bus drivers, maintenance team and so many others who are members of our safety team."

Springfield's mayor, Rob Rue, said Thursday night that the threats were the result of the rhetoric used by Donald Trump, his running mate and Ohio Senator JD Vance and other prominent Republicans, who had spread the unfounded claims around the city's Haitian community.

"Pets are safe in our community, and it's unfortunate that there was a spotlight put on a story that was validated that was not true at all," Rue said in an interview with WSYX.

A spokesperson for Trump's campaign told Newsweek Thursday that the former president would "continue to give a voice" to those expressing concerns about illegal immigrants in their communities.

The majority of those migrants living in Springfield have been given Temporary Protected Status by the Biden Administration, which allows them access to health care and means they can work.

A Haitian community group leader told Newsweek Wednesday that many in the diaspora, who have lived legally in the city for some time, were feeling despair over what had been said about them.

"People are scared now and they're calling me, and they want to leave the city. They are trying to sell whatever they have and leave," Marc FeQuiere, the executive director of the Haitian Community Network in Ohio, said.

"Today, I think most people didn't even send their kids to school, and they are afraid to go out. All the phone calls are the same."