Update: Officials have informed SuperTalk Mississippi News that the capitol building has been cleared. Operations are now able to resume as scheduled. The Senate will convene at 11 a.m.
For the second day in a row, the Mississippi Capitol is being evacuated due to a bomb threat.
On Thursday morning, a threat was made at the State Supreme Court across the street from where lawmakers were convened. Senator Juan Barnett confirmed to SuperTalk Mississippi News that operations in the capitol building have been halted as law enforcement agencies work to secure the scene.
Additional buildings were evacuated on Thursday morning. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones reports that the Hinds County Circuit Court and Chancery Court buildings have been cleared out for precautionary purposes.
Legislators did not meet Wednesday morning as Mississippi’s capitol was one of nine across the nation to be subject to a threat. After the scene was cleared, lawmakers gaveled back in during the afternoon.
The threats join a string of false reports of bombs that have been made to numerous airports and Jewish synagogues across the state, with the most recent emailed threat being sent to the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson on December 18, 2023.
Just a few days prior, another Jewish temple in Mississippi was the recipient of a bomb threat, with law enforcement confirming that the Temple B’nai Israel in Columbus and Tupelo was emailed a threat on December 14.
A handful of airports across the state were also sent a similar threat over email that same day. The airports included the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, Tupelo Regional, Gulfport-Biloxi International, Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional, and Stennis International.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available regarding Thursday’s threat.
