Three Ohio zoos evacuated due to bomb, active shooter threats over the weekend

Many visitors to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium Saturday had their trips cut short, after a bomb threat led to a full-scale evacuation of the popular Powell destination. And it wasn’t the only Buckeye State zoo that closed in the face of similar threats over the weekend.

According to a social media post from the Columbus Zoo, a bomb threat was received at approximately 2:18 p.m. on May 2. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and arrived on the scene within 10 minutes, and the Zoo was evacuated, remaining closed for the rest of the day before reopening yesterday.

The Zoo’s post claims that several zoos across the country received similar threats in recent days as well.

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At 6 p.m. yesterday, an updated post stating that no suspicious items were found and the Zoo was confirmed safe “after a comprehensive sweep of Zoo grounds in partnership with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police and Columbus Division of Police.”

The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium wasn’t alone in its closure, either. Over the weekend, the Akron Zoo was closed on Sunday due to reports of a bomb threat and active shooter, and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo closed the same day after receiving threats “similar to those reported at other zoos across the country,” according to a Fox 8 story. Both Zoos reopened today.

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