(MT. VERNON, IL) — There has been a confirmation of a third bomb threat made at the Continental Tire Facility in Mt. Vernon. The first was made over the weekend, the second on Monday, and the latest was made Tuesday afternoon. At last report, authorities were looking into potential suspects. The Illinois Secretary of State Bomb Squad and K-9 officers have been assisting with the investigation of threats and clearance of the scene. There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those involved through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Jefferson County CrimeStoppers.

UPDATE (10:38 a.m.): Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Allen made the following statement regarding the threats: “In today’s world we have to take each call very serious. Although each of these bomb threats have had no merit we must continue to take each one serious because public safety is our number one concern. We have had a few reports of possible suspects. Our Detective Division is following up on these leads. We have tied up countless hours of public resources because of these threats. We are going to do everything to ensure the person behind these threats is apprehended and spends a long jail sentence.”