At least three people have been arrested this Tuesday, coinciding with an election day in USA which has also been marked by failures of software on vote-reading machines in Pennsylvania, false Russian bomb threats in Georgia, and sporadic acts of violence.
Regarding those detained, the Capitol Police detained a man who “it smelled like fuel” and that he was carrying a flare gun in the visitor center, as detailed in a brief statement in which he added that the suspect had been detained during a security check upon entering the building, without giving more information on the matter.
In Georgia, meanwhile, a poll worker was detained after allegedly sending a letter to gray city office in which he threatened to bomb the voting center in the disputed state, which has seen a large turnout since the early voting period began.
But a few hours later, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that the threats were false and the work of a “foreign state actor”, specifically Russia. Raffensperger added in a press conference that the intention of the threats was to “destabilize” the United States.
The FBI said in a statement that it had received information about the bomb threats and that its priority was to ensure “the integrity of the election” as well as the protection of voters.
“He FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement to respond to election threats and protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote,” the FBI explained.
Despite the threats, at noon, more than half a million people had voted in person in Georgia.
In another key state, Pennsylvania, problems of software in the ballot reading machines forced a judge to extend voting in Cambria County by two hours until 10:00 p.m. local time (1:00 GMT on Wednesday).
The Pennsylvania Department of State acknowledged the problems in Cambria County in a statement, adding that “All completed ballots will be acceptedplaced in a safe place and counted by the Election Council”.
Also in Pennsylvania, authorities reported that they are investigating hundreds of cases of alleged fraud when registering voters in six counties.
Pennsylvania, which sends 19 Electoral College delegates, is considered the key state in these elections to determine who, between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, will take over the presidency of the United States.
While in New York State, A man was arrested in the town of Fowler, when he threatened staff at a polling station with burning down the building after being informed that he could not vote because he was not registered.
The FBI also warned this Tuesday that at least two videos that were circulating on social networks with his name and the organization’s insignia to disseminate false information about the presidential election.
Independent investigators have said the videos were likely created by a Russian group.