Bomb threat closes bridge between Cincinnati and Covington after man threatens to ‘kill everyone’ if he ‘doesn’t get $400,000’ – as Coast Guard halts all traffic on Ohio River and businesses are evacuated
- A man made a bomb threat to authorities at 5:24 a.m. Wednesday morning
- The bridge and surrounding areas over the Ohio River have been evacuated
- Authorities are trying to confirm whether the ‘pipe bomb’ threat is credible
Authorities have closed a bridge over the Ohio River after a man threatened to “kill everyone” during a bomb threat.
Covington police say they are blocking all vehicular and pedestrian traffic on both sides of the Roebling Suspension Bridge between northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.
Sources said Fox19 that a man called authorities and threatened to “kill everyone if he didn’t get $400,000” by planting pipe bombs on the bridge.
The anonymous man called the Kenton County 911 center at 5:24 a.m., adding that he would “shoot the cops” if they pointed guns at him.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the threat is credible, but dozens of emergency services are on the scene and businesses have been evacuated.
Covington police say they are blocking all vehicular and pedestrian traffic on both sides of the Roebling Suspension Bridge between northern Kentucky and Cincinnati
Sources told Fox19 that a man called authorities and threatened to “kill everyone if he didn’t get $400,000.”
Businesses near the bridge have been evacuated as a precaution, and the U.S. Coast Guard has halted all river traffic in the area.
The Coast Guard office in Columbus is warning all boats to avoid the area, and first responders are in the water manning the safety zone.
Covington police confirmed they were waiting for the state of Kentucky to send more resources, but declined to comment further.
Covington, Cincinnati, Kenton County Police and Kenton County EMA are also responding to the threat.
Authorities are also trying to confirm whether the anonymous threat will affect other bridges in the area.
Captain Bornhorn of the Covington Police Department told Lex18 that they have “every agency you can think of” exhausting all resources.
He confirmed that they are working with the Department of Homeland Security, multiple bomb sites and even drone teams.
Investigators searched the bridge but found no suspects when clearing the banks on either side of the river.
The anonymous man called the Kenton County 911 center at 5:24 a.m., adding that he would “shoot the cops” if they pointed guns at him
The Coast Guard office in Columbus is warning all boats to avoid the area, and first responders are in the water manning the safety zone
Businesses near the bridge have been evacuated as a precaution, and the U.S. Coast Guard has halted all river traffic in the area
They are still working to clear the bridge itself and are asking residents to stay away from the area.
Roads on both sides of the river are closed about two blocks from the bridge, and investigators hope to reopen the bridge this morning.