Fake bomb threats targeting Pa. polling places appear to be from Russia, FBI says

A series of fake bomb threats targeting polling places in the Philadelphia-area and several other states on Election Day appear to be from Russia, officials said.

An email announcing a bomb threat at the Chester County Government Services Center on 601 Westtown Road in West Chester was sent to Chester County Voter Services on Tuesday night, shortly before polls closed, according to investigators.

Chester County Emergency Officials responded to the building which was evacuated. The Chester County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit conducted a sweep and determined the threat was unfounded. The building was later reopened.

"I'm happy to say that the building is safe, that the threat appears to be dubious, and we are functioning just like we planned," Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe said during a Tuesday night press conference.

Following a Chester County court order, voting hours were extended to 10 p.m. for the impacted voters at neighboring polling places at West Chester Seventh-day Adventist Church and Glen Acres Elementary School.

Officials said the reporting of Chester County Election results was not impacted by the incident. The processing of mail-in-ballots takes place at a different location and continued Tuesday night. All polling place results arriving at the Government Services Center and delivered by Judges of Elections proceeded as planned at the building, officials said.

Barrena-Sarobe said that the incident appeared to be part of a series of fake bomb threats at polling places at swing states across the country. An FBI spokesperson said many of the threats appear to have originated from Russian email domains and none of the threats appear to be credible.

“This appears to be overseas in origin," Barrena-Sarobe said. “I know they’re working off an idea that some of the IP addresses are coming from Russia. And what is clear from all the recent news reports and information from the FBI is that this is part of a consistent, coordinated attempt to call in bomb threats to swing states in order to disrupt the election.”

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Officials said fake bomb threats targeting polling places in Pennsylvania and other swing states on Election Day appear to be Russian in origin. Full story HERE: https://t.co/XyVnonraGB pic.twitter.com/28h0DC9AAO

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) November 6, 2024

The threats impacted polling places in Philadelphia as well, officials said.

Philadelphia police said they responded to bomb threats at the following locations between 6:43 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday:

• The 900 block of South 7^th Street
• The 1000^th block of South 4^th Street
• The 400 block of Queen Street
• The 700 block of Catharine Street
• The 1100 block of Catharine Street
• The 200 block of Washington Avenue
• The 900 block of Federal Street
• The 1200 block of Wharton Street
• The 1200 block of Carpenter Street
• The 1000^th block of East Erie Avenue

Police said all of the locations were searched by K-9 units and had negative results.

During a Tuesday night press conference, District Attorney Larry Krasner said there were also fake bomb threats at polling places on 1013 Elsworth Street and 66^th Street and Chester Avenue in Philadelphia.

Krasner said both threats were unfounded. During one of the incidents, a man walked into a polling place and made a verbal threat but was later detained, according to Krasner.

“Phony bomb threats. No bombs. No one hurt. No boom. None of that happened," Krasner said.

@nbcphiladelphia

The polls are now closed. #Philadelphia District Attorney #LarryKranser provided an update on #electionday in the city. He said there were fake bomb threats and that police had to detain a person at a polling place after they made threats. #electionsecurity #decision2024 #pennsylvania #nbc10philly #phillyda

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If you have information on any of the threats, please call Philadelphia police at 215-686-3013. You can also submit an anonymous tip by calling or texting 215-686-TIPS (8477).

Governor Josh Shapiro also addressed the fake bomb threats in Pennsylvania during a Tuesday night press conference.

“Thus far there is no credible threat to the public,” Shapiro said. “Not withstanding that, today in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of our democracy, millions of legal, eligible voters, made their voices heard in this election. Once again, voters across the commonwealth were able to cast their ballots safely and securely in this election, as in past elections as well.”

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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the bomb threats that were called into several polling places throughout the Commonwealth on Tuesday. https://t.co/cSoUtbWUxZ pic.twitter.com/FKtyYIaAC8

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) November 6, 2024