By Kanishka Singh, Reuters
Photo: AFP / Jessica McGowan
- Bomb threats led to evacuations in Maryland, California
- Officials to resume counting ballots on Saturday (local time)
- Everyone determined to be safe after threats
Bomb threats were made against several Maryland boards of elections and election offices in at least two California counties on Friday, state authorities said, adding that everyone was safe and law enforcement officials were investigating.
Election officials were counting mail-in ballots when the threats came in Maryland. State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis said the threats led to the evacuation of some buildings.
He called the threats "cowardly", adding that local officials would resume counting on Saturday (local time).
"Safety is a top concern - but we WILL resume canvassing (counting) tomorrow. Cowardly threats whether from abroad or not shall not deter us," DeMarinis said on social media platform X.
"The Baltimore County Police Department is aware and currently investigating the bomb threat received via email by the Baltimore County Board of Elections Office," police posted on X, later adding that a probe determined that threat to be unfounded.
In California's Orange County, the registrar of voters received a bomb threat at an office in Santa Ana after which the office building was evacuated and bomb detection dogs were used to conduct a search. No explosives were located, officials said, adding normal operations will resume on Saturday.
The registrar of voters in California's Riverside County said its central counting building was also evacuated due to a threat and a bomb squad found no explosives.
The offices of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Maryland Governor Wes Moore said they were monitoring the situation and working with local officials.
Republican Donald Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday's presidential election. Counting continued in parts of the country in local, congressional and presidential races.
The FBI said that hoax bomb threats, many of which appeared to originate from Russian email domains, were directed on Tuesday at polling locations in five battleground states - Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - as voting was under way. Russia denies interfering in U.S. elections.
Ahead of the elections, officials had braced for threats arising from misinformation and conspiracy theories about the vote.
- Reuters