Bomb threat at health center is among several threats made since shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A bomb squad responded to a health clinic on Buffalo’s East Side this morning after a threat was made.

It’s been one of several threats made since Saturday’s mass shooting.

“This is an attempt to keep us fearful and to terrorize us as black people,” said Erie County Chairwoman April Baskin.

“And your attempts will be put to a stop.”

Erie County Chairwoman April Baskin condemned the threat that was made at the Jesse Nash Health Center on William Street.

“If someone thinks this is a joke, the joke is going to be when they’re standing before a judge pleading for mercy,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

Poloncarz said at 7:30 this morning, the head nurse of the HIV clinic arrived at the health center and noticed a paper bag outside the HIV clinic’s second floor door with a note inside that read, “There’s a bomb in the building and you won’t find it.”

The nurse notified the health center’s security guard who called 9-1-1 and Buffalo Police Department and NFTA Transit officers immediately arrived and evacuated the building.

A bomb squad and K-9 units from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office also responded and took over the operation, clearing the building after an hour-and-a-half-long search.

The legislator for the district, Howard Johnson, says he received several phone calls from constituents, concerned about their safety.

“A few of them went and pulled their kids out of school,” he said.

The incident happened just days after 10 people were killed by a white supremacist at the Tops just a few miles away.

Since then, local authorities have received several calls of potential threats.

Most recently, on Tuesday, a man was arrested and charged for making a terroristic threat at the Tops on Elmwood Avenue.

On Sunday, a man was charged with making a terroristic threat at Bocce Pizza and Southern Tier Brewing Company.

“It’s going to stop,” said Baskin.

“The black community is not going to stand for it, and you are not going to get the response that you want. What you’re going to do, is like our county executive said, is face serious legal consequences. And you, in eternal life, will rot for your choices.”

The health center remained closed for the rest of the day.