Bomb and shooting threat at Rhode Island hospital unfounded
A bomb and shooting threat at a hospital in Rhode Island has been determined to be unfounded after police and bomb detection dogs searched the facility and found no threat, according to authorities.
The incident began at 12:48 p.m. Monday when a switchboard operator at South County Hospital in South Kingstown received a call from a man who said he had placed several bombs in the area around the hospital.
The caller said the devices would detonate within 15 minutes, according to Town Manager James Manni. The suspect also claimed to be armed with an AK-47, leading police to activate an active shooter protocol.
The hospital was placed on lockdown, patients were sheltered in place and incoming patients were diverted to other facilities.
Authorities said officers arrived at the hospital in less than one minute and immediately began searching the building. About 75 officers, including mutual aid personnel, responded to the incident.
Police searched the hospital, its parking lot and the surrounding area with armed officers and bomb detection dogs. The search found no explosives, no active shooter and no threat to the hospital. The facility was later reopened.
Deputy Police Chief Alfred Bucco said no suspect is in custody. Investigators have a phone number and are attempting to trace the caller, whose number is not local.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
