Dozens of bomb threats made in DFW similar to threats made nationwide demanding bitcoin

Bomb threats have been made in several North Texas locations that are similar to others made across the country.

Threats have been made in Fort Worth, Arlington, Southlake, Irving, Grand Prairie, Dallas, Coppell and Lewisville, according to police.

Law enforcement authorities around the United States on Thursday were responding to a wave of bomb threats, many of them sent by email.

In a statement, the FBI said it was “aware of the recent bomb threats made in cities around the country, and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance.”

The following threats have been made in these North Texas cities:

• Fort Worth: Police said they have received reports of five bomb threats sent to local businesses through email. The Bomb and Arson team determined the threats were unsubstantiated.
  
  

• Irving: Police said they received 11 reports so far from businesses saying they received the threat via email. The first threat was reported at 12:25 p.m.

• Southlake: The Department of Public Safety issued a notice on its Facebook page about the threats, saying two of its businesses have received the email.

• Arlington: Police spokesman Christopher Cook said three businesses there have received the emails as well at 1100 W IH 20 and 5300 Park Springs.

• Lewisville: Police were working on two bomb threats as well on Thursday afternoon.

• Dallas: Police said they answered nearly 20 calls for service related to the emailed bomb threat.

Irving Det. David McClelland said he also received reports of bomb threats at Grand Prairie and Coppell.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued a statement on Twitter in regards to the emails.

“We are aware of recent bomb threats made in cities around the country & remain in touch w/ our law enforcement partners to provide assistance,” the tweet said. “As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant & to report suspicious activities that could represent a threat to public safety.”

Not a credible threat

The email demands payment in the form of bitcoin to keep the bomb from going off, according to a post from the Southlake Public Safety Department.

“No credible threats have been found at this point,” the post continued. “We encourage the public to continue to be vigilant and call 911 with anything suspicious.”

Cook, the Arlington police spokesman, said the threats there have not been determined to be credible, either.

Carrollton posted on the city Facebook page about the threats and said they are originating from overseas.

“Investigations are underway; however, there is currently no credible threat. If you receive one of these threats (currently coming in by email), please report it to your local authority,” the post said.

Cook said the emails appear to be “spoofs,” meaning they come from a false email account.

McClelland compared the bomb threats to email scams.

“This is like the Nigerian scam that people get in emails,” McClelland said.

“They are pretty much all the same. They’re asking for $20,000 in bitcoin,” McClelland said. “Some threats tell businesses not to call police.”

The Twitter account DFW Scanner posted a photo of what they say is the threatening email businesses have received in Texas.

“Good day. There is a bomb (Tetryl) in the building where your business is conducted. My mercenary assembled a bomb according to my instructions,” the email says. “It can be hidden anywhere because of its small size, it is not able to destroy the building structure, but if it explode you will get many wounded people.”

The email instructs the reader to submit $20,000 worth of bitcoin to a bitcoin address.

Bitcoin is a digital currency that operates independently of a central bank.

“Nothing personal this is just a business,” the email continues. “We aren’t terrorists and don’t take any liability for acts of terrorism in other buildings.”

This story was originally published December 13, 2018 at 2:15 PM with the headline "Dozens of bomb threats made in DFW similar to threats made nationwide demanding bitcoin."