Reading police deem bomb threat at library a hoax

READING — Reading Police and Fire, with assistance from state and neighboring agencies, have confirmed that the bomb threat directed at the Reading Public Library and Town Hall this morning was a hoax and posed no danger to the public.

Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, alongside Police Chief David Clark and Fire Chief Gregory Burns, announced that the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, Salem Police and Endicott College Police conducted a comprehensive search and found the threat to be baseless.

The library is set to resume normal operations this afternoon.

The incident is still under investigation, but initial assessments suggest the threat aimed to disrupt a Pride event at the library.

The emailed threat, which arrived shortly before the event’s start, included a veiled reference to the scheduled gathering.

This follows a similar incident in another community earlier in the week, police say.

Authorities are treating the incident as a hate crime.

The Reading Police are actively investigating the threat and are determined to maintain the safety and inclusivity of the community.