2nd Essex County Town Reports Email Bomb Threats: Authorities

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A second Essex County town reported experiencing bomb threats on Thursday, possibly as part of an apparent series of hoaxes seen across the nation, authorities said.

The Fairfield Police Department said that between 2:15 and 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, three local businesses received bomb threats via email. Chief Anthony Manna said that authorities believe the incidents were part of an extortion plot that occurred throughout the country and which is being investigated by the F.B.I.

According to a Friday statement from Manna:

“The first incident occurred at 2:21 p.m. when employees from Wrapade Packaging Systems, located at 15 Gardner Road, reporting the bomb scare. This was followed at 2:59 p.m. by the same report from employees at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning, located at 11 Daniel Road. While police officers and the Fairfield Fire Department were attending to these calls, employees from Imperial Dax contacted police headquarters at 3:34 p.m. reporting the same threat at their company. The Essex County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad responded and canvassed each of these locations with negative results.”

OTHER BOMB THREATS: DEC. 13

In West Orange, authorities reported seeing three email bomb threats on Thursday at a local fertility clinic, temple and apartment building.

• See related article: West Orange Bomb Threats May Be Part Of National Hoaxes

West Orange officials released the following statement in the wake of the incidents:

"Police say there is a widespread national email bomb threat campaign targeting businesses, educational facilities, and organizations, including locations in New Jersey and other states around the country. These emails request Bitcoin payments from the recipients and threaten to detonate a bomb at the location if payment is not received. To date, there has been no information to support the credibility of this threat, nor any confirmed devices at any locations."

• See related article: Evacuation At Ocean County College As National Bomb Hoax Goes On

Bomb threats were also made across the country Thursday, including in several cities and at universities. In Connecticut, several schools and businesses were targeted.

In Massachusetts, state police were responding to a series of bomb threats that were sent by email to businesses.

• See related article: Bomb Threats Emailed Nationwide Demanding Bitcoin Payment

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Photo: 15 Gardner Road, Fairfield, NJ (Google Maps)