Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says Springfield bomb threats are ‘hoaxes’ coming from ‘overseas’

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine revealed Monday that a recent spate of bomb threats targeting the town of Springfield have all been “hoaxes,” with some originating from “one particular country” overseas. 

The 77-year-old governor told reporters Monday that law enforcement has responded to at least 33 separate bomb threats made against Springfield government offices, schools and medical centers since the town was thrust into the national spotlight over the influx of Haitian migrants. 

“Thirty-three threats; Thirty-three hoaxes,” DeWine said during a press conference in Springfield. “I want to make that very, very clear. None of these had any validity at all.” 

The governor indicated that the threats were being made by foreign actors. 

“We have people unfortunately overseas who are taking these actions,” DeWine said. “Some of them are coming from one particular country.” 

The governor declined to name the country, but Russia and Iran have both been accused by US officials of attempting to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

“We think that this is one more opportunity to mess with the United States,” DeWine said of the foreign actors making the threats. “And they’re continuing to do that.”  

“We cannot let the bad guys win. Our schools must remain open,” he added, noting that additional law enforcement resources will be deployed in Springfield amid the flurry of threats. 

“The people who are doing this are doing this to sow discord in our community,” Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said. “We just can’t let them do that. We can’t let them do that. We have to keep providing the services that the citizens of Springfield and Clark County expect.”

Former President Donald Trump declared during last week’s presidential debate that Haitian migrants in Springfield had been abducting and eating pets, comments many have attributed to jump in threats against the town.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” the Republican presidential nominee said, repeating unfounded claims circulating on social media. 

Springfield city manager Bryan Heck has said there are “no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”

The town canceled its upcoming annual celebration of diversity, arts and culture in response to the increase in threats, officials said Monday.