Three MS Coast courthouses evacuated after bomb threats received by email. What we know

Three courthouses in Harrison County were evacuated Thursday morning and reopened later that day after a bomb threat was emailed about bombs at the Biloxi and Gulfport county courthouses, and Youth Court in Biloxi.

Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley said the Department of Homeland Security told him that threats are being emailed about public buildings across the state.

Haley said the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department has bomb-sniffing dogs from the Biloxi Police Department and Keesler Air Force Base checking to ensure the buildings are safe for people to re-enter.

“We’re going to do our due diligence,” Haley said.

The threats interrupted court proceedings in Biloxi, where several attorneys said the building was evacuated between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m.

By 10:54 a.m., law enforcement authorities had determined that three Harrison County courthouses were all clear and the buildings could be re-entered.

This story was originally published January 4, 2024 at 10:23 AM.