Bomb threats forced evacuations at several locations across northwest Ohio today, including a polling station in Toledo, as voters cast ballots in the midterm elections.
What happened in Toledo?
Toledo police said officers responded to a reported bomb threat at a polling station inside Beverley Elementary just before 10:30 a.m. A second threat was reported at about 10:39 a.m. at a separate location where a teacher workday was underway. Both sites were evacuated as a safety precaution. The Northwest Ohio Bomb Squad was notified, and bomb-detection dogs were requested to check both buildings. Police did not say whether the two threats were connected or whether voting was interrupted.
What happened in Bowling Green?
Two schools in the nearby city received threatening calls this morning, according to the district. Students and staff were evacuated from both buildings. Authorities believe the calls may have been swatting incidents, which are hoax emergency calls meant to draw a large police response.
What happened in Defiance?
The Defiance City School District received an automated phone call threatening a bomb in one of its school buildings. School administrators and the Defiance Police Department judged the threat to be low risk. Students and staff were still evacuated to the stadium while police and fire crews searched the building.
The inspection found no threats or suspicious items, and everyone returned to the building, where normal operations resumed. Police Chief Frank Herbert thanked the community, school staff, students, the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office and the fire department for their cooperation and quick response.
Are the threats connected?
That is not known. Toledo police said they could not say whether their two reports were linked. Officials in Bowling Green pointed to possible swatting, but no authority has tied the Toledo, Bowling Green and Defiance incidents together.
What is not confirmed?
The sources do not say whether the Toledo searches found anything, whether the Toledo polling station reopened, or whether any voters were turned away. The Defiance report does not mention Election Day or any polling place, so it should not be treated as part of an election-related pattern without more information from police…