Police Say Studies of Bomb Discovered at Lengthy Island Trump Rally Are 'False,' 'Unfounded'

The Nassau County Police Division on Lengthy Island in New York mentioned stories of an explosive gadget being discovered at Nassau Coliseum — the placement of a Sept. 18, 2024, marketing campaign rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump — are “false” and “unfounded.”

In messages shared on X and Facebook, Nassau police first said, “Studies that an explosive gadget was discovered on the Nassau Coliseum are FALSE.”

Studies that an explosive gadget was discovered on the Nassau Coliseum are FALSE. #NassauCountyPD

— NCPD (@NassauCountyPD) September 18, 2024

Minutes later, the account posted a press release from Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder studying: “Studies of explosives being discovered on the website are unfounded. There’s a one who is being questioned who could have been coaching a bomb detection canine close to the positioning. The person with the bomb canine falsely reported explosives being discovered and that particular person is presently being detained by the police.”

By cellphone, a Nassau County police spokesperson advised Snopes the division deliberate to launch a brand new assertion saying it decided Trump’s rally posed “no risk to the general public.”

Earlier within the day, billionaire Elon Musk amplified the rumor on his platform, X, reposting (archived) “wow” above a share of a submit from the distinguished @amuse account. The submit from @amuse displayed the headline, “Bomb Discovered Forward of Trump Rally in Lengthy Island, NY.” The story continued, “Police with a bomb sniffing canine working in coordination with the Secret Service found a bomb in a automobile close to the placement of Trump’s rally in the present day.”

Inside hours, @amuse deleted their submit. As of this writing, Musk’s “wow” submit was nonetheless obtainable above a message studying, “This submit is unavailable.”

CNBC anchor Carl Quintanilla posted (archived) remarks crucial of Musk’s amplification of the rumor together with a screenshot of Musk’s and @amuse’s submit, previous to the deletion by @amuse. Right here is that screenshot:

The black Labrador canine displayed within the image had no relation to the Trump rally. The picture dated back to at least 2016 and confirmed Bella, a bomb-sniffing canine who retired in Could 2024 after eight years of service at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The declare was shared by a number of other prominent accounts. 

A Historical past of @amuse’s Unreliability

Now we have beforehand reported different occasions the consumer behind the @amuse account — who said they’re “a Baptist residing in Texas” — shared false or deceptive data.

For instance, @amuse falsely claimed in August 2024 {that a} video confirmed U.S. President Joe Biden appearing confused and boarding an empty plane. As of September, that false submit was nonetheless obtainable. Additionally, in April 2023, the account’s proprietor claimed a Complete Meals location in downtown San Francisco announced its closure because of “hostile transgender clients.” The @amuse consumer subsequently claimed the submit was a joke. Even so, in addition they ultimately deleted that unique submit.

Sources