In an unsettling incident on Saturday morning, the Reading, Massachusetts public library was evacuated after receiving an emailed bomb threat referencing the facility. Reading police Chief David Clark stated that the police and fire departments were alerted around 9:45 a.m., regarding the threat made directly to the library via email.

With immediate concern for the safety of patrons and staff, the Reading Public Library was swiftly evacuated as a precautionary measure. The authorities promptly called in the state police bomb squad for assistance. First responders conducted a thorough search of both the library and the adjacent Reading Town Hall on Lowell Street.

Thankfully, after a comprehensive investigation, it was determined that the bomb threat was unfounded, and there was no actual danger to the public. Police Chief Clark noted that the incident is still being investigated, but initial indications suggest that the threat was intended to disrupt a pride event scheduled to take place at the library. The email threat contained a thinly veiled reference to the event, which was slated to commence just minutes after the threat was received.

This incident follows a similar threat received by another community earlier in the week, leading authorities to suspect a potential pattern. Reading police are treating the incident as a biased-motivated crime and are focusing efforts on identifying the perpetrator.

According to the Reading Public Library's website calendar, the targeted event was titled "Pride Storytime with Drag Friends" and was planned for Saturday morning. The town of Reading strongly condemns acts of violence, disruption, and hate within the community, as affirmed by Town Manager Kraunelis. Kraunelis emphasized that everyone deserves to feel safe in Reading, and such incidents will not be tolerated.

After ensuring the safety of the premises, the library is poised to reopen for normal business hours on Saturday afternoon. Authorities remain vigilant in searching for any leads or additional information related to the incident.