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https://www.statesman.com/news/local/the-roots-sxsw-performance-cancelled-following-security-concern-venue-near-downtown/q9q9GE2M5df7B7coLDOAwM/
Man charged with making bomb threat that cancelled SXSW show by the Roots
Katey Psencik
10:02 p.m Saturday, March 17, 2018 Statesman Homepage
2 a.m. update: Police have arrested a man who they said emailed a bomb threat to the Fair Market in East Austin on Saturday night, forcing the cancellation of a SXSW show by the Roots.
Trevor Weldon Ingram, 26, has been charged with making a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, city officials announced in a news release
The threat was received at 4:23 p.m., the release said. Officers checked the area but found nothing suspicious, officials said. “In the interest of safety, (promoter) Bud Light made the decision to cancel the event,” the release said.
Ingram was taken into custody at 11:15 p.m., it said.
“There are no indications of any broader security concern for any activities relating to this incident,” the release said.
A police spokesman said around 9:30 p.m. that more information would be released via Twitter, but nothing has been posted yet.
When asked who reported the threat, Jake Dirr with the city’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management office said officials were still gathering information and would release it soon on Twitter.
“There are no active security concerns,” Dirr said. “Right now there is nothing additional to share, but information will be released ASAP.”
However, the Austin Chronicle reports that it had two staffers at the event. One staffer heard event workers discussing the concern as a bomb threat, according to a report the weekly posted online, and "a second Chronicle staffer spoke with someone working at Fair Market tonight, who confirmed that Austin police were canvassing the property to determine whether there is any validity to the threat."
The cancellation of the show on the final night of the South By Southwest Festival comes at a time of heightened concern in the city following three deadly package bombs -- two on Monday -- that have exploded in East Austin this month, killing two people and seriously injuring a third.
Representatives for the event issued the following statement Saturday night after the cancellation:
“Due to a security concern, we have made the difficult decision to cancel tonight’s Bud Light x The Roots SXSW Jam. After working proactively with SXSW, the Austin Police Department, and other authorities, Bud Light believes this is the best course of action to ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and artists, and appreciate your understanding. We are truly sorry to have to cancel the event, but we felt it was necessary to take all safety precautions.”
In a tweet that was later deleted Saturday night, frontman Questlove wrote, “Uh, welp can’t say much but for those in Austin waiting in line to see us tonight. Tonight’s show has been cancelled. They’ll make official announcement but I’d rather save y’all the trouble of waiting in line.”
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Gone: My Discogs collection for The Roots:
http://www.discogs.com/user/tomhayes-roots/collection
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