Arizona Man Arrested for Alleged Bomb Threat to White House

<p>An Arizona man was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly sending an email threatening to carry out bombings at the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C., according to federal officials.</p><p>Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, of Tucson, was charged with making an interstate threat to injure, as announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint, Hicks allegedly emailed a local Tucson television station on September 23, claiming there would be an "imminent bomb strike against the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C."</p><p>After receiving the email, the television station alerted law enforcement, which prompted an investigation into the threat.</p><p>Authorities later identified Hicks as the alleged sender of the email.</p><p>U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine stated, "We must take threats of violence like this one seriously." He expressed gratitude to the local news station for referring the threat to law enforcement and to the FBI for addressing the situation promptly and professionally.</p><p>Federal officials indicated that investigators discovered additional email drafts in the account linked to Hicks.</p><p>These drafts, also dated September 23, were addressed to other news organizations and contained similar threats involving the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C.</p><p>The FBI is leading the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service.</p><p>FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day credited the news station for alerting authorities to the threat, stating, "We appreciate the community partner who reported the threat to law enforcement. Cooperation and partnership are essential to protecting the American people."</p><p>The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that Hicks made his initial appearance in federal court on Thursday.</p>