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No Explosives Found at Mississippi Capitol Despite Bomb Threat

A view of the Mississippi State Capitol building with a Capitol Police car parked in front
After a bomb threat on the second day of the 2024 legislative session, the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., went on lockdown on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. Capitol Police and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety announced before noon that no explosives had been found following a morning search. Seen here, a Capitol Police officer warns off a passerby as they investigate. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Legislators are back at work in the Mississippi Capitol Building after a bomb threat resulted in a lockdown on Wednesday morning—the second day of the 2024 legislative session. Nationwide, seven state capitols locked down this morning in response to threats.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety finished searching the Capitol for explosives and “suspicious equipment” and has cleared the building, a spokesperson said in a statement to the Mississippi Free Press just after 11 a.m.

“This is an ongoing investigation and there is no further threat to the Capitol or surrounding buildings,” the statement said.

Gov. Tate Reeves addressed the bomb threat on Twitter and thanked law enforcement for its quick response.

“I’m incredibly thankful to the Capitol Police and all the Mississippi law enforcement officers who immediately responded to the incident,” he said.

DPS has not released any further information regarding the threat.

The Associated Press reported that six other states evacuated their capitol buildings following bomb threats this morning, including Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Montana. Law enforcement officials have not found evidence of explosives in any of the buildings.

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