Springfield, Ohio City Hall Evacuated Over Bomb Threat

A bomb threat sent to "multiple agencies" caused the evacuation of Springfield, Ohio's city hall Thursday morning.

The city has been at the center of controversy in recent days over unsubstantiated reports of Haitian migrants eating pets and livestock.

Officials said the building was evacuated around 8:30 a.m. local time, after the email arrived six minutes earlier, but the nature of the threat was not immediately clear.

The Springfield News-Sun reported that city officials were seen being moved away from the building, with some driving away at around 9 a.m.

"[The] City of Springfield received a bomb threat that has prompted an immediate response from local and regional law enforcement," a statement released by officials on Facebook said.

"As a precautionary measure, the building has been evacuated, and authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our employees and residents. We are working to address this situation as swiftly as possible."

Newsweek reached out to Springfield city officials and the police department Thursday morning for further comment.

There has been growing unrest in the city in recent months over its surging migrant population, many of whom are in the area legally.

Over the past week, claims of Haitian migrants eating cats, dogs and livestock have spread online, and were repeated by prominent members of the Republican party, including Donald Trump during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday.

"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs," Trump said, while also making claims about a Colorado town being overrun by Venezuelan migrants.

On Wednesday, City Manager Bryan Heck made a video statement on the stories, calling them "disappointing".

"Our Springfield community is making notable progress that contributes to its growing appeal among new residents, including immigrants," Heck said, adding that the town had seen a growth in its workforce across agriculture, manufacturing and small businesses.

"While we are experiencing challenges related to the rapid growth of our immigrant population, these challenges are due to the pace of the growth, rather than the rumors being reported."

Heck said there had been an impact on schools and other public resources due to the rapid growth in population. The city's website explains that migrants from Haiti are entitled to financial assistance due to having Temporary Protected Status under the Biden Administration.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced additional support for the city on Wednesday, including $2.5 million for expanding healthcare services for new arrivals.

"I want the people of Springfield and Clark County to know that as we move forward, we will continue to do everything we can to help the community deal with this surge of migrants," Governor DeWine said in a press release.

"The federal government has not demonstrated that they have any kind of plan to deal with the issue. We will not walk away."