FBI: Fake bomb threats sent to polling locations in several states are linked to Russia

WASHINGTON — The FBI said it was aware of multiple non-credible bomb threats sent to polling locations in several states as Election Day unfolds in the U.S. Tuesday.

The agency did not identify the states in question, but said many of the threats made appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

Earlier on Tuesday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said there were some reported bomb threats to polling places in the state, but all were deemed non-credible and authorities were investigating. Officials in Fulton County, Georgia, said they received “multiple calls,” and the threats forced a brief closure of two polling places.

In Maine, at least three high schools that served as polling places were subjected to false reports of shooters, but voting continued uninterrupted as police confirmed the calls were hoaxes.  

The bomb threats were among multiple disturbances that U.S. officials are tracking.

“Election integrity is among the FBI’s highest priorities,” the FBI said in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote.”

Cait Conley, a senior adviser to the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told reporters on a call Tuesday there were no national-level security incidents that were threatening to disrupt the election on a wide scale.

Officials continue to warn of what they say is an unprecedented level of foreign influence and disinformation that they expect will persist beyond Election Day.