On a quiet Saturday morning, the Reading Public Library became the target of a baseless bomb threat, an act aimed at disrupting a scheduled family Pride event, as confirmed by the Reading police. The threat, conveyed via email, came to the authorities’ attention just after 9:45 a.m., prompting an immediate response. The library was evacuated for safety, while the adjacent town hall, already closed for the weekend, remained unaffected.
A coordinated effort by the Reading police and firefighters, alongside the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, Salem police, and Endicott College police, led to a meticulous search of both the library and town hall. Their investigation concluded the threat was without merit, allowing the library to reopen its doors to the public by 1 p.m. that same day.
The nature of the email, containing a subtle reference to the Pride event set to start shortly after the threat was received, led authorities to suspect the motive was to disrupt the gathering. This incident mirrored a similar threat directed at another community earlier in the week, further raising concerns.
Investigations are currently underway, treating the incident as a crime motivated by bias. The town manager and police chief have both emphatically stated that such acts of intimidation and hate are unacceptable in Reading. The targeted event was a “family Pride storytime,” a celebration of diversity and inclusion.
Patrick Egan, Chair of the Reading Public Library Board of Trustees, expressed a strong stance against the threat, emphasizing the role of public libraries as havens for community members from all walks of life. He condemned the attempt to intimidate and exclude certain groups as detestable, cowardly, and contrary to American values. Egan reaffirmed the library’s commitment to its mission of serving every member of the community, including those within the LGBTQIA+ community, asserting that such threats would not deter their efforts nor silence their voices.