Bomb threats force closures at some New Jersey polling places; juvenile arrested in North Brunswick
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said polling sites at School 2 and School 10 in Paterson were shut down after threats were received.
Several voting locations received threatening emails, just as polls were getting ready to open Tuesday morning. One of them was in the tiny, unassuming borough of Lake Como, Monmouth County.
As voters strolled in and out of the only polling location for one of the smallest towns in the state, there was a sense of relief - once the all-clear was given.
“There's four people in there voting? It’s the smallest town. I have no idea why they would pick Lake Como, no idea,” said Lia Diana, of Lake Como.
Police say borough employees received an emailed threat just before 5 a.m. The polling location moved about 12 blocks to Belmar Municipal Court for a short time, but after a sweep, Lake Como’s polls reopened.
“It’s a small town. It's frightening to my employees, it’s upsetting to myself, the mayor and council, and also the people who are running for office. It’s very upsetting,” said Lake Como Administrator Andrew Huisman.
Another threat came into Toms River at Cedar Grove Elementary School. Police investigated, as they did in Lake Como, and found nothing credible.
“The worst thing we worry about here is people coming down in the summer, maybe having too much to drink,” said Tommy Tate, of Lake Como.
Bomb threats were also called into polling locations in Passaic County. School No. 2 and School No. 10 in Paterson received threats. Both polling sites inside the schools were evacuated. Students were not in class for the day.
No bombs were found and the sites reopened for voting after police deemed it was safe.
A polling site in the City of Passaic was also targeted.
Authorities say a juvenile is also in custody for allegedly making a bomb threat against a polling location in North Brunswick. Officers responded to Livingston Park Elementary School around 8 a.m. Tuesday. No explosives were found.
The juvenile is a local resident, according to officials. It was not clear if that juvenile was linked to the other bomb threats.
State police, Homeland Security, and the Attorney General’s Office are all investigating the source of these emailed threats.
