Five Democratic US lawmakers receive bomb threats

29/11/2024 6:21

        Five Democratic U.S. lawmakers from Connecticut on Thursday
        said they were targeted with bomb threats at their homes, but no
        explosive devices had been found, according to social media and
        local media.
        
        U.S. Representatives Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, John Larson
        and Joe Courtney, all from Connecticut, reported the threats in
        statements on Thanksgiving Day.
        
        "There is no place for political violence in this country,
        and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season
        with peace and civility," said Himes.
        
        Hayes said that on Thanksgiving morning, police told him
        they received an email "stating a pipe bomb had been placed in
        the mailbox at my home," but that no bombs or explosives had
        been found and that the investigation was ongoing.
        
        Local media in Connecticut reported that U.S. Senator Chris
        Murphy, a Democrat, had also been targeted. The U.S. Capitol
        Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
        
        Several of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet and
        administration picks were also targeted this week with bomb
        threats and "swatting."
        
        Swatting is a false report made to police to induce a
        potentially heavy, armed response by officers at someone's home.
        Law enforcement experts see it as a form of intimidation or
        harassment that is increasingly being used to target prominent
        figures.
        
        A spokesperson for the Trump transition team said on
        Wednesday that the threats were made Tuesday night and Wednesday
        morning.