A suspect has been arrested following a bomb threat at a local retailer while a local school system experienced their own threat.
According to law enforcement, on Sunday, a male caused a disturbance at the Locust Grove Walmart and made bomb threats. He was described as an approximately 50-year-old Middle Eastern man. A search ensued in the area.
Monday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Abbas Zainulabdeen H. Al Saadi, 45, of Fairfax. He was taken into custody near A&K Boulevard near the Walmart and charged with threats to bomb or burn and trespassing. He was scheduled to appear in Orange County General District Court Wednesday, but that appearance was continued to Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. He is being held without bond at the Central Virginia Regional Jail.
Also on Monday, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a bomb threat made against the school system. Students were not in school as it was a professional development day. All employees were evacuated and sent home as a precaution. Deputies responded to the four schools as well as the school board office and conducted sweeps of each. No suspicious items or threats were found.
The sheriff’s office was later notified by the Virginia State Police Fusion Center that at least eight other counties across the state had received the same threat. According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office there is no credible threat to the schools or the community and the office will continue to coordinate with the Virginia State Police and other local agencies as the investigation continues.
