Authorities investigated a series of safety concerns on Monday, February 9, after bomb threats and reports of suspicious packages prompted downtown Springfield closures and the early dismissal of Springfield City School District students, according to multiple sources.
Officials say several emailed bomb threats referenced pipe bombs and included rhetoric targeting Haitian immigrants, leading to evacuations and closures of government buildings and prompting law enforcement to cordon off parts of downtown Springfield early Monday morning.
The City of Springfield asked residents and visitors to avoid the downtown area near the municipal courts and public safety buildings during the investigation. Streets, including Fountain Avenue, Columbia Street, North Street, and Limestone Street, were closed for a time before reopening later in the day.
Officials stressed that, at this time, no credible explosive threat has been confirmed, and the downtown area was declared safe after extensive checks.
Springfield City School District dismissed students early Monday “out of an abundance of caution” due to the reported threat, according to district communication. Families were asked to pick up students as soon as possible.
Local and state law enforcement worked closely throughout the morning to assess the situation, and resources, including explosive detection personnel, were involved in clearing targeted areas.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine noted that some of the threats referenced Haitian immigrants and said safety forces, including the FBI and a bomb squad, were assisting local responders.
Springfield has drawn national attention in recent years over immigration-related tensions, including bomb threats and evacuations tied to false and inflammatory claims about the local Haitian community, which local leaders have repeatedly denounced.
As of Monday afternoon, officials reported that streets reopened and there is no current safety threat to the public, though the investigation into the origins of the threats remains ongoing.
