Bomb threat stokes fear in Ohio’s Springfield after Trump amplifies pet-eating rumours

Evacuation of government buildings came days after the former president falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants were harming pets

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Officers investigate the Springfield City Hall after bomb threats were made against buildings on September 12. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:27am, 13 Sep 2024

Government buildings and a junior school in Springfield, Ohio were evacuated on Thursday after an emailed bomb threat, police said, rattling the small US city at the heart of an anti-migrant conspiracy theory amplified by Donald Trump.

Springfield has been thrust into the spotlight in recent days after an unfounded story of Haitian migrants eating pets went viral on social media, with the Republican ex-president and current White House candidate pushing the narrative despite it being debunked.

Democrats have accused Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, of fanning racial tensions as they use the Springfield conspiracy theory to elevate immigration as a campaign issue ahead of November’s election.

Trump doubled down on the rhetoric during a campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, saying that “migrants are walking off with the town’s geese”.

Immediately after mentioning Springfield in his speech, Trump added: “I’m angry about young American girls being raped and sodomised and murdered by savage criminal aliens,” though provided no specific details.

Springfield authorities said there were no credible reports of pets being harmed by members of the immigrant community – accusations that Trump also repeated in his Thursday debate against Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris.