The Pennsylvania Capitol complex in Harrisburg was briefly evacuated Saturday following a bomb threat • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Pennsylvania Capitol Police briefly evacuated the Capitol Complex and Judicial Center on Saturday after all members of the state House and Senate received an emailed bomb threat.

As reported by PennLive, lawmakers received an email shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday from someone claiming to have hidden explosives in and around the buildings, “in the name of Palestine.” The message threatened to set off a device every few hours until President Joe Biden “went on national television and publicly denounced the illegitimate state of Israel.” The email sender claimed to be inside one of the buildings armed with a knife.

Eric Veronikis, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, said in a statement Saturday night that Capitol Police did not find any explosives during a search of the building with K9 units. “Capitol Police and the FBI continue to actively conduct a thorough search and investigation in coordination with Pennsylvania State Police, House and Senate security, and the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the safety of the area,” the statement said.

Earlier in the day, both the House and Senate had canceled their sessions scheduled for Sunday; neither was in session Saturday, though some legislative staff members were in the Capitol building. Lawmakers are still negotiating a state budget, which is a week past a June 30 deadline.

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