Bomb threats made to several local businesses, part of threats made nationally
SALISBURY, Md. – A quiet Thursday erupted with police activity in Salisbury. Two bomb threats at different locations both sent by email, the first at WBOC. Police confirming that threat was linked to a string of bomb threats that happened across the nation where the sender requested $20,000 in Bitcoin.
“About 2:30 is when I noticed the police parked out front of WBOC,” said Kelly, a worker with Best Western across the street from WBOC. She did not want to give her last name. “I asked (the police officer) what was going on. Do I need to evacuate.”
Police were on scene at the media outlet for about an hour and a half, Worcester County Sheriffs and Salisbury Police using K-9 units to search the premises, inside and out.
“And then, about an hour later is when the dog came, they did the search, and about 4 o’clock they came and let us know that everything was clear,” said Kelly.
Then another call coming in from downtown. This time from the Avery Hall Insurance building.
“Around twenty after three we got a call, or announcement over the PA system that we were having a fire drill, and we’ve never had fire drills before,” said Mike Defiore, a claims representative with Avery Hall Insurance.
For twenty minutes, workers for Avery Hall Insurance stood outside as police began blocking off East Market Street and East Main Street. An email had been sent to a worker with a threat of an explosive device at their location.
“We’re thinking ‘something’s going on.’ And then, little by little, ten, fifteen minutes later, we heard a little bit about that email that had come out,” said Defiore.
We cannot confirm if this email demanded Bitcoin. The threats are in line with dozens of others made against businesses, schools, universities and government offices across the nation.
“It’s just something that we have with our cyber world these days. People are always trying to make some money and seeing what they can do, and it’s just the next scheme. And I’m sure there’s going to be another scheme coming along in a year, or so,” said Defiore.
This wasn’t just isolated to Salisbury, we also received reports of threats made in Seaford and in Queen Anne’s County. Luckily, nothing was found at any of these sites.
These bomb threats have been seen across the country, and even in some parts of Canada, prompting evacuations and building sweeps.
Right now, the FBI and other federal organizations are investigating these threats.
The good news is that in all the threats that have been reported none of them have turned out to be credible. New York City police are calling the threats crude attempts at disruption to extort money.
They add that whoever is found to be responsible will have federal felony charges and up to five years in prison.
