Reading Officials Release Update On Library Bomb Threat

READING, MA — A bomb threat at the Reading Public Library on Saturday was made minutes before a Pride event was scheduled to begin and is being investigated as a bias-motivated crime, according to a joint statement from the town, the police department, and the fire department.

The police and fire departments along with the state police bomb squad and several other agencies searched the library and town hall after the threat was made by email directly to the library at 9:46 a.m. Saturday. Authorities determined the threat was unfounded and there was no danger to the public.

The library was immediately evacuated. Following the search, it reopened at 1 p.m. Town hall is closed on the weekends.

The joint statement reads: "The incident remains under investigation, but immediate indications are that the threat was an attempt to disrupt a Pride event being held at the library, based on the email threat containing a thinly veiled reference to the event which was scheduled to begin minutes after the threat was received."

A statement from the library's board of trustees said that the threat stated "a device would detonate during the heart of a family Pride storytime on a busy Saturday morning."

"Pride Storytime with Drag Friends," was scheduled to begin at the library at 10 a.m., according to the library's website.

A similar threat was received in another community earlier in the week, according to law enforcement.

Police are investigating the incident as a bias-motivated crime.

“The Town of Reading condemns acts of violence, disruption and hate within our community and against our citizens. Everyone deserves to feel safe in Reading,” Town Manager Matt Kraunelis said in a statement. “Our community is built on and strives toward inclusivity for all, and instances such as these will not be tolerated.”

Police Chief David Clark said in a statement: "We will bring the full power of our agency to bear on the investigation. Threatening violence and harm to others will not be tolerated in Reading. We will not be silent on these matters, and our neighbors will not be intimidated.”

The library's board of trustees' statement reads: "Public libraries are sanctuaries for our entire community. Any threats to libraries and staff are attacks on intellectual freedom and open societies. Libraries serve all. Threats to seek to ostracize and marginalize members of our community are repellant, cowardly, and un-American."