Authorities in Georgia temporarily evacuated two polling places in Fulton County on Tuesday following bomb threats linked to Russia, according to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Although the threats were later deemed uncredible, the incident raised concerns about potential interference in the voting process in this key state, prompting heightened security measures and an investigation involving the FBI.
Georgia authorities temporarily evacuated two polling places in Fulton County on Tuesday due to bomb threats, which, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, originated from Russia. The threats, which turned out to be uncredible, led to the suspension of activities at the polling places for about 30 minutes, affecting voting in this crucial U.S. state.
In a press conference, Raffensperger stated that the bomb threats originated from Russia, although he did not provide specific details on how that conclusion was reached. “We’ve heard some threats that were of Russian origin,” the secretary said, adding that the state would maintain strict vigilance to ensure safety in the electoral process.
The incident occurred at two polling places in Union City, on the outskirts of Atlanta. The city has a predominantly African American population, which has led some analysts to question whether the intent was to influence the voting of this community. Fulton County authorities confirmed that, while up to five polling places received similar threats, none were considered credible after a preliminary investigation.
The FBI also intervened in the investigation, coordinating with state and local police to respond to the threats. In a statement, the agency emphasized that it had found no evidence that the threats were real.
“FBI is aware of several bomb threats that have been made around the state of Georgia. Election integrity and protecting our community is our highest priority, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats and protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote,” the FBI stated.
Raffensperger expressed concern about the possible intention of Russia to sow discord and disrupt the electoral process. “They’re up to mischief, it seems, and they don’t want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election,” the Secretary of State said, reiterating Georgia’s commitment to transparency and security in the democratic process.
