JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to several bomb threats delivered by email Wednesday. The threats targeted Planet Fitness locations across the city. This also happened over the weekend, and several locations were evacuated. These threats were all revealed to be unfounded.
Wednesday, people inside "voluntarily" evacuated and K9s were able to search the building, JSO said. The concerns again turned out "not to be a threat." However, JSO says it is taking these incidents very seriously and they are being criminally investigated individually.
JSO has not confirmed that these incidents are connected to other crimes. But bomb threats are currently being called in to Planet Fitness locations in multiple states.
Media Matters and The Human Rights Campaign both a link campaign launched by hate-mongering TikTok account "Libs of TikTok" to threats around the country, which have been reported in Rhode Island, Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, North Dakota, and more in the past few weeks.
All of the threats so far have turned out to be hoaxes, according to news outlets.
"Libs of TikTok," also referred to as LoTT, launched a campaign against Planet Fitness after a member claimed they had seen a "man" shaving in the women's locker room. The member shared a video and photo of this person to LoTT, which was posted on their account.
Understanding the person in the photo to be a transgender woman who was rightfully in the locker room, Planet Fitness banned the member, because they violated their policy against taking pictures in the locker room.
Planet Fitness released a statement reiterating their trans-inclusive policy and urged staff to address discomfort and try to educate.
Around March 15, LoTT called for a boycott of the gym on their account. They continue to post about the gym and try to generate outrage.
The Jacksonville locations that were threatened are in the following areas:
- 8000 block of Beach Boulevard
- 600 block of Commerce Center Drive
- 14000 block of Old St Augustine Road
- 8000 block of Old Kings Road South
- 6000 block of Fort Caroline Road
If you know anything, you can contact JSO at 904-630-0500 or give an anonymous tip at 1-866-845-TIPS.