BREAKING NEWS: Bomb threat disrupts polling at Kayenta Business Center
KAYENTA
Polling sites at the Kayenta Business Center (formerly the old primary school) were briefly disrupted today because of a bomb threat that affected state polling locations across multiple states, including Arizona and New Mexico.
Lawson Benally, the public relations manager for the Kayenta Township, confirmed that the polling site remained open following a swift response from local law enforcement and emergency services.
According to the Kayenta Police Department, officials received a report around 2 p.m. from Navajo County, which alerted the Arizona Department of Safety about the threat aimed at polling sites in four states. Promptly responding to the situation, officers entered the Kayenta Business Center by 2:15 p.m., evacuating all individuals from the building, including students from the ABC preschool located on the premises.
“The safety of our community and voters is our top priority,” stated Benally. “We are grateful for the quick response from our law enforcement and emergency teams, which allowed us to assess and clear the building efficiently.”
At approximately 3:08 p.m., after a thorough inspection by the Kayenta Police Department, school officials, and the Kayenta Township Fire Department, the area was deemed safe. Voters and poll workers were allowed to return and continue casting their ballots without further incident, Benally stated.
Local authorities identified the threat as a potential case of “swatting,” a tactic that involves falsely reporting emergencies to elicit a police response. The Kayenta Police Department reassured the public that all threats are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated.
Benally highlighted that the Emergency Response Plan was effective during the incident, allowing for rapid access to the polling center and a timely assessment of the situation.
“We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our electoral process and the safety of our citizens,” he concluded.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow