Bomb threat that prompted evacuations at Washington County Courthouse may have been a 'swatting' attempt, officials say

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — Washington County Courthouse in Hillsboro was evacuated Thursday morning after someone called in a bomb threat, a spokesperson with the sheriff's office said.

Initial reports claim that a staff member got a call lasting a few seconds that said that multiple bombs had been placed in the courthouse.

A KGW reporter was told the incident could have been a "swatting" attempt, meaning a false emergency call to send a large police response to a specific address. Later, the Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed that no explosive devices were found and that it is believed to have been a hoax, though police are investigating who made the call.

By 11:10 a.m., the courthouse had been fully evacuated, and law enforcement personnel were sweeping the building for possi