Hoax email bomb threats reported at businesses nationwide, officials say

Threats not considered credible

ORLANDO, Fla. – A rash of emailed bomb threats submitted to business, news agencies, libraries and other institutions nationwide are being considered a hoax, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Officials from the New York Police Department tweeted that the emails demand bitcoin payment. Locations have been searched and so far no explosives have been found.

"We are aware of the recent bomb threats made in cities around the country, and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety," a public affairs officer from the FBI Tampa division said. 

New York Police Department Counterterrorism Bureau officials said the threats are not considered credible. 

Officials said the person who sent the threats is likely trying to cause disruption and obtain money.

The Orlando Police Department and officials from Seminole County said they were aware of threats received at local businesses Thursday afternoon and those threats were similar to ones being made across the country.

In Seminole County, five schools were temporarily placed on code yellow lockdowns due to threats at nearby establishments. 

"We had five schools initially placed on a code yellow out of a precaution until law enforcement worked further information to realize this was a much larger-scale hoax event," Seminole County Public School spokesman Michael Lawrence said.

Among locations to receive threats are the Thurston County Courthouse in Olympia, Washington, Capital University in Bexley, Ohio, and the Guardian Building and other locations in Detroit.

Below is a list of local locations that received the email threat. This list will be updated.

- CareerSource Central Florida at 1209 West Airport Boulevard in Sanford
- CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion at 2703 NE 14th St. in Ocala
- Hospice of Marion County at 3231 SW 34th Ave. in Ocala

It's unclear at this point how many entities received the threat. Check back for more updates on this developing story.