Hoax Bomb Threats, Ransom Demands Target San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – A wave of emailed bomb threats targeting businesses, schools and other locations across the country put law enforcement agencies in San Diego County on alert Thursday, though none have been deemed credible.

A representative of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said the agency had gotten word of local instances of the threats. Threats have also been reported in multiple states and other cities in California, including in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Francisco counties.

Other local law enforcement agencies, including the police departments in the cities of San Diego, Escondido and Oceanside, were investigating the same type of threats. At least some of the threats demanded a ransom of $20,000 paid in Bitcoin, officials said.

In Oceanside, computers in a private home and at Tri-City Medical Center received the threatening emails, Oceanside police Lt. Kedrick Sadler said.

In Riverside County, a business in Palm Desert was evacuated due to the threat.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department issued a statement saying it is "one of several (Southern California law enforcement) agencies experiencing an influx of email threats. (The department) takes these threats very seriously and is conducting an investigation into each threat. At this time no threat has been substantiated."

The New York Police Department's Counterterrorism Bureau also addressed the threats.

"We are currently monitoring multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city," a spokesperson said. "These threats are also being reported to other locations nationwide and are not considered credible at this time."

One person who received the emailed threat at an unidentified location posted a copy on Twitter.

The threat states there was an explosive device in the subject company's building, and it demanded the same cryptocurrency ransom mentioned in the other instances of the threat, to be paid by the end of the day.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed it is aware of the threats. The agency said it is in contact with law enforcement partners to provide assistance.

"As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities that could represent a threat to public safety," officials said in a statement.

City News Service and Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

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