Boston Children's Hospital Receives Bomb Threat Amid Right-Wing Harassment For Transgender Care

Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts was at the center of a bomb threat after being harassed for weeks by a right-wing campaign against their gender-affirming care.

The Boston police bomb squad arrived at the scene late Tuesday night but did not find a bomb on the premises.

It was at around 8 p.m. Tuesday when a call about the bomb threat was made to the hospital, officials said. The anonymous bomb threat was followed by the hospital and law enforcement working to ensure the safety of patients and employees, ABC News reported.

"We moved swiftly to protect our patients and employees, and we are working with law enforcement and outside experts as they closely investigate this situation," the hospital said in a statement.

The bomb squad arrived at around 8:14 p.m., the Boston PD said. No suspicious or dangerous items were found.

"We are relieved no bomb was found and that employees and patients are safe. We remain vigilant in our efforts to battle the spread of false information about the hospital and our caregivers," the hospital's statement continued. "We are committed to ensuring the hospital is a safe and secure place for all who work here and come here."

The children's hospital, which regularly takes a spot among the best pediatric hospitals in the country, has been the target of a campaign against the care they provide to transgender youths.

Right-wing groups and accounts on social media, such as LibsofTikTok, claimed without evidence that the hospital was providing gender-affirming hysterectomies to children under 18 years old.

The hospital has, however, stated that all genital surgeries are only performed on patients above the age of 18.

The hospital had earlier warned employees about the threats and previously released a statement to NBC News in light of the harassment.

"In response to commentary last week critical of our Gender Multispecialty Service (GeMS) Program, Boston Children's Hospital has been the target of a large volume of hostile internet activity, phone calls and harassing emails including threats of violence toward our clinicians and staff," the statement said.

The hospital expressed deep concern for the safety of the doctors and staff who face threats driven by "misinformation and a lack of understanding and respect for our transgender community."

"Boston Children's is proud to be home to the first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program in the United States," the hospital added in the statement.

It is unclear whether the anonymous bomb threat was connected to the ongoing harassment against the hospital.

Detective John Boyle said Wednesday morning that "it's still an active investigation," NBC News reported.

Patricia MacArthur-Doval was at the hospital after the bomb threat was made.

She told NBC10 Boston she was "afraid to leave" because her child was in the NICU.

"I just want to make sure my kid's safe and if anything bad is going to happen," she said Tuesday before she was allowed to re-enter the building. "...I'm just really scared and I don't know what's going on."