D.C. gay rights groups evacuated after bomb threats

WASHINGTON – Just days after President Barack Obama came out in support of same sex marriage, several gay rights organizations in the nation’s capital were evacuated after a bomb threat.

Four locations were threatened, the Metropolitan Police Department Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit headquarters, the Human Rights Campaign headquarters, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Police evacuated and searched the buildings before the all-clear was given.

A police spokesperson says one of the threats came through the Los Angeles Police Department.

The LAPD issued the following statement:

“Earlier this am our LAPD 911 dispatch got call from a caller who says he was going to blow up LGBT bldg in DC. They got call about 8am PST. We imediately got in contact with MPD to advise of the threat. We also started an investigation into the threat. It looks like the call came from local (LA) pay phone. As of 1230 PDT no additional evidence was found to validate the threat. The investigation is ongoing. We will continue to coordinate with MPD. LGBT authorities were also notified by MPD, and they’ve taken measures to ensure the safety of their employees.”

It is not known at this time how the other threats were made.

WTOP will bring you more information as it becomes available.

WTOP’s Mark Segraves contributed to this report. Follow Mark and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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