Several major state capitals received bomb threats that prompted evacuations or brief lockdowns while police investigated, but no evidence of explosives was found.
The warnings came on Wednesday morning (Washington time) after a series of false reports of shootings at the homes of government officials in recent days.
Staff evacuated from the Montana State Capitol.credit: AP
Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana were among the states that evacuated state offices or buildings. Legislators in Kentucky and Mississippi have begun meeting in legislative sessions.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear previously said on Twitter that the Capitol was evacuated while state police investigated a threat received by the Secretary of State's office.
He said everyone was safe and that officials were aware of similar threats made to other offices across the country. The threat was received while Kentucky lawmakers were meeting in the Capitol Annex for ethics training.
Capitol Police respond to a bomb threat at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.credit: AP
Public safety officials locked down the Mississippi State Capitol Wednesday morning after a bomb threat on the second day of the legislative session. The state Senate postponed its morning session after the building was evacuated, and police dogs circled the building before the building was evacuated.
“This is an ongoing investigation and there is no further threat to the Capitol or surrounding buildings,” said Billy Martin, spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Closures were short in most states.
