By The opinion
07 Jul 2024, 01:40 AM EDT
The Pennsylvania State Capitol building was evacuated Saturday due to a bomb threat after state lawmakers received an email from an individual claiming to have placed explosives at the complex and to be armed with a knife.
A spokesperson for the state House Democratic Caucus confirmed to ABC27 News that everyone inside the building was ordered to evacuate immediately.
Legislative staff were working this weekend on the state budget that has yet to be finalized, according to PennLive.
Capitol Police and FBI still They were working on Saturday night to “ensure the security of the area” after the State Capitol Complex was evacuated due to the bomb threat.
In a statement released Saturday night, officials said that No explosives were found during a search of the perimeter by trained dogs, but that an exhaustive search and investigation was still being carried out.
Along with Capitol Police and the FBI, officials said Pennsylvania State Police, House and Senate security and the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office were involved.
The email was titled “My manifesto” and was sent to state lawmakers around 5:45 p.m. Saturday. The individual claimed to have placed “highly lethal lead azide devices” around the building “in the name of Palestine.”
Lead azide (Pb(N3)2) is an inorganic compound that is more explosive than other azides. It is used in detonators to initiate secondary explosives.
State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D) posted on the social media platform X, thanking law enforcement for their “bravery and professionalism.”
In another post, Bizzarro said he is “tired of the nonsense and unhinged behavior” and said he hopes they “find this threat.”
According to his post, the email to lawmakers said that The individual plans to activate a new explosive “every few hours until Joe Biden appears on national television and publicly denounces the illegitimate state of Israel.”
In a statement to ABC27 News, Capitol Police said they are working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough search and investigation.
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