Des Moines, Ames police say bomb threats reported in several Iowa cities are likely hoaxes

Several bomb threats were reported Thursday across the state — many in central Iowa.

Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said the city had received at least seven bomb threats starting about 12:20 p.m. but no devices had been recovered. He said he believes the threats are not locally originated or credible.

Drake University received the latest bomb threat just after 2 p.m. Blank Park Zoo, Eyerly Ball, Josephs Jewelers, Niemaster Law Firm and Iowa Reprographics each reported threats. Parizek said the Animal Rescue League in Polk County made a report as well. 

Ames police confirmed that the city's Target and airport were both called and an unknown person demanded money or a bomb would be detonated. 

"We went around and made sure there weren't any suspicious items laying around and then when we heard that calls had been made (in other towns, too) and what they’re requesting, it’s obvious it’s a scam," Ames police spokesman Cmdr. Geoff Huff said.

Cedar Falls Cpt. Mike Hayes said four businesses had received emailed threats on Thursday. The senders were demanding a ransom and said a bomb was placed inside the buildings.

Hayes said similar reports were made in Mason City, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. 

"It would not surprise me if we find out in the next few days, in the next few hours, that this was going on all across the nation," the 33-year police veteran said. 

Hayes was right. A string of bomb threats have been emailed to universities, police departments and news outlets across the country, including New York City, Dallas and San Francisco, USA Today has reported. 

One of multiple "large businesses" in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area was evacuated, according to a news media tweet that was retweeted by Waterloo police. 

Waterloo police have not responded to calls for comment. The Story County Sheriff's Office said it has heard of threats made in Huxley and Nevada, as well as Ames, but referred questions to the local police departments. Nevada police confirmed they responded to a report, stating in a news release that the threat was received via email and demanded a payment be sent digitally. 

Huxley police Sgt. Joe Marchesano said his department responded to a bomb call at a machining company in Huxley and an insulation company in Cambridge.

No devices were recovered in either Story County city, and police believe there is no threat. 

A recent bomb threat at an Altoona Target was cut from the same cloth as Thursday's threat, Huff said. He said callers were demanding money be loaded onto Google Play or iTunes gift cards. Huff said criminals prefer these cards because it is easy to retrieve money from them and they are hard to trace. 

Huff said these scams are not new. They usually manifest in the form of hoax calls to city residents, with the caller claiming that the resident owes back taxes or money on a utility bill and that they must send money or face arrest or interruption of electric or gas services. 

Parizek said police in Albia, North Liberty and Burlington and sheriffs in Black Hawk County, Dickinson County, Pottawattamie County and Allamakee County, among others, are also investigating bomb threats. 

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Tyler Davis can be reached at tjdavis@registermedia.com or on Twitter @TDavisDMR.