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Nov 06, 2024

Hoax Russian bomb threats target four AZ polling sites, officials say • Arizona Mirror

Voters wait in line on Nov. 5, 2024, at a polling location in Chandler. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Arizona is one of several states where polling places have received bomb threats

Voters wait in line on Nov. 5, 2024, at a polling location in Chandler. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Arizona is one of several states where polling places have received bomb threats that the FBI is saying originated from Russia.

“As for bomb threats in Arizona, they pertained to four specific locations in Navajo County only,” Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon. Fontes called the threats “unsubstantiated” and the threats are believed to have Russian origin but would not elaborate further.

The FBI has said that “several states” have seen bomb threats against particular polling locations and that the threats originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been deemed credible.

The threats in Arizona did not cause polling places to close and Fontes said that no voters were turned away due to them.

“We don’t have any reason to believe anyone is in jeopardy,” Fontes said.

In a second update for reporters, Fontes said that the threats came from a .ru email address, but stressed that they cannot say for certain that the threats were made by the Russian government.

“The motive seems to be to ensue chaos and not impact any political outcome,” Fontes said. “We do, however, believe that invoking chaos and trying to get us to rattle in our boots is why they’re doing this.”

Similar bomb threats caused disruptions in Georgia where election officials are now seeking a court order to allow select polling places to remain open past the 7 p.m. deadline.

Fontes said he has spoken in passing with his counterparts in the other impacted states but has not had “substantive” conversations with them. All of the states are continuing to work with state and federal law enforcement to investigate the threats.

Fontes would not give further information on which polling places were targeted and an email to the Navajo County Elections Department was not immediately returned. Other swing states have received similar threats.

“It is going to be a busy evening, folks,” Fontes said.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror November 5, 2024

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Reporter Jerod MacDonald-Evoy joined the Arizona Mirror from the Arizona Republic, where he spent 4 years covering everything from dark money in politics to Catholic priest sexual abuse scandals. He brings strong watchdog sensibilities and creative storytelling skills to the Arizona Mirror. Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.