The FBI confirmed on Thursday that several cabinet nominees of US president-elect Donald Trump received bomb threats. In one of the threats involving a pipe bomb, the authorities have recovered a pro-Palestinian message.
FBI said it is working with other law enforcement agencies as the investigations continue.
What is swatting?
Swatting is the act of making calls or messages to falsely report crimes to emergency services. In the US, such calls could prompt a response from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, which will be dispatched to an address.
A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message. My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops. We are thankful for the swift…
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) November 27, 2024
The term swatting is derived from SWAT, a specialised police task force in the US. It is viewed as a form of harassement to target prominent figures in the country.
Karoline Leavitt, who is the spokesperson for Trump transition team and his pick for White House press secretary, termed the threats "violent and un-American".
The officials who were threatened include New York Rep Elise Stefanik, who was selected as US ambassador to the UN, Attorney General pick Matt Gaetz, Labour Secretary pick and Oregon Rep Lori Chavez-DeRemer and New York Rep Lee Zeldin who was chosen to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
This morning, a police officer arrived at our home—where our seven children were still sleeping. The officer notified my wife and I that they had received a credible pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family. We are all safe and the threat has been cleared. We want to thank law…
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 27, 2024
Zeldin posted on X that a pipe bomb threat targeted him and his family on Wednesday with "a pro-Palesitinian themed message". He went on to say that he and his family were not home at the time and are safe.
Reports suggested that Trump's pick for CIA chief, John Ratcliffe, and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth also received threats.
Hegseth said on Wednesday morning, a police officer came to his residence where his seven children were sleeping. The police told him that they received a credible pipe bomb threat targeting his family. "We are all safe and the threat has been cleared," Hegseth posted on X.
