Russian Email Linked To NJ Election Bomb Threat, Report Says

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — At least one of the several bomb threats sent during Election Day in New Jersey was linked to a Russian email, according to a report from NJ.com.

An email to Kenneth Hirmann of the County of Passaic Board of Elections said that there was a pipe bomb near the entrance of one of Paterson's voting booths, set to explode in 11 hours, according to the report.

The threat forced election workers to move polling places as police swept the area. No bombs were found in Paterson or any of the other New Jersey polling places that were threatened.

NJ.com cites a police report that says the threat sent to Hirmann was linked to a Russian email address.

The report added that the email contained “detailed schematics” of the phony explosive device and a motive.

Two other Paterson polling places were threatened, but there is no mention of Russian emails in those police reports, according to NJ.com.

Paterson police told Patch that the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the bomb threats.

At least seven New Jersey counties received bomb threats on Tuesday, according to Attorney General Matthew Platkin. Threats were sent to polling places in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic counties.

One of the threats was found to have been sent by a North Brunswick child, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Other municipalities, in addition to Paterson, including Toms River, West Orange, and Ridgewood, had a wrench thrown in their Election Day plans due to the non-credible threats. Several investigations remain ongoing.

Several bomb threats with Russian email domains were sent across the country during the 2024 elections, but none were found to be credible, according to the FBI.