A audio recording making the rounds on social media, including Facebook and WhatsApp, alleging that a terror attack — including random bombs blowing up around the U.S. Virgin Islands — has surfaced in recent days, causing a scare among community members.
The recording was also heard by Federal Bureau of Investigations and Virgin Islands Police Department officials, all of whom debunked the audio, which was also sent to The Consortium via Facebook, as fake in a statement.
“In response to the circulating WhatsApp voice message indicating a threat to the USVI in the coming months, the FBI has revealed no evidence to substantiate that threat or to support any other terrorist threats to the territory,” read the statement, provided via a release issued by V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte.
The statement added, “The Virgin Islands Police Department continues to work with [its] Federal Law Enforcement partners and [is] advising the community that “hoax threats” are not a joke and they have devastating consequences to both the public and the perpetrators. Issuing this type of threat over social media, via text message, or through email is a Federal Crime.”
Listen to the audio here.