Harrisburg Capitol evacuated after emailed bomb threats: report

PA Department of General Services’ Eric Veronikis explained in a statement that after an email was sent to all members of the House of Representatives and Senate containing a bomb threat, police evacuated the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex and Judicial Center.

"The Capitol Police immediately worked with House and Senate security, as well as the Office of the PA Courts, to issue an immediate evacuation notice to those in the buildings," Veronikis explained in the statement, according to CBS News.

A thorough search by Capitol Police was conducted that included K9’s but found no explosives. Capitol Police and the FBI said they were "still actively conducting a comprehensive search and investigation in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, House and Senate security, and the Dauphin County Sheriff's office to ensure the safety of the area."

Representative Ryan Bizzarro shared a screenshot of the threatening email, which showed the perpetrator’s motive. The email, titled “My Manifesto,” indicated that explosives were hidden in and around the State Capitol "in the name of Palestine."

The sender threatened to detonate the devices unless President Joe Biden publicly denounced Israel as an "illegitimate state." The email also claimed the individual was inside the Capitol armed with a knife.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro responded to the threats emailed to state lawmakers, saying that, “Capitol Police didn’t find any explosives during a K9 search of the perimeter of the Capitol Complex."

"Capitol Police and the FBI are still actively conducting a comprehensive search and investigation in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, House and Senate security, and the Dauphin County Sheriff's Office to ensure the safety of the area," Shapiro added.