(NewsNation) — At least four zoos or aquariums in the central United States were targets this weekend of apparent “swatting” calls that prompted the locations to temporarily close as a safety precaution.
On Friday morning, the Louisville Zoo was evacuated for a “safety threat” that police said was someone calling in a claim there was a bomb on the premises. Police swept the zoo, however, and quickly gave the “all clear.”
Around the same time, police in Ohio reported calls of a bomb threat and gunshots at the Toledo Zoo. Sgt. Mohamad Nasser said tactical units, a bomb squad and K9 officers responded and found no danger to the public.
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The Toledo Zoo closed for the day, officials said.
On Saturday, bomb threats were called on two more facilities that house animals: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio.
“We swept the zoo. We found no traces of any bombs of any kind,” said President and CEO for Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Tom Schmid, who added employees have done recent drills to prepare for such emergency calls.
“This is part of life now around the country, around the world,” he said. “And so we have to make sure we’re vigilant.”
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