ARLINGTON, Va. — Arlington National Cemetery is closed to the public while police investigate a bomb threat made Friday morning. All funeral services were delayed, and they will now happen later in the day.
According to authorities, a threatening call came in around 7:40 a.m. No injuries have been reported. Police have not released any information about the identity of the caller, or any motive behind the threat.
Arlington National Cemetery officials and Joint Base Myer Henderson-Hall emergency services are both responding to the scene. All updates will be posted on social media, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Arlington National Cemetery.
"The cemetery will remain closed for the remainder of the day to visitors and family pass holders," a spokesperson said in a press release Friday afternoon. "We are focusing our efforts now on working with families to ensure that funerals scheduled earlier this morning and this afternoon will be conducted later today."
Army National Military Cemeteries and Office of Army Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera said, “Every threat to Arlington National Cemetery is taken seriously. I want to thank our visitors and family members for their patience and understanding, and an extensive team of our law enforcement partners across the National Capital Region for their swift and thorough response. We will spend the remainder of the day focused on our mission of laying our service members and their loved ones to rest."
The call comes about a week and a half after police investigated a bomb threat at the Smithsonian National Zoo. DC Police evacuated the park as a precaution and some roads in the area were closed, but nothing dangerous was found.
A series of threats have also been made against schools in Virginia and Maryland. Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones is taking a firm stance against false threats, known as swatting, after a series of incidents in the region caused several unnecessary evacuations.