Story perspectives

Raffensperger Bomb Scare Cleared, Campaign Fly-Around Continues

5/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Brad Raffensperger's campaign stop at the Macon-Bibb County airport was halted when a suspicious item was found inside a vending machine.
The Bibb County sheriff’s office deployed a bomb squad and search dogs, which swept the area and found no hazardous device.
No staff or patrons were inside the airport, so no injuries occurred.
Raffensperger resumed his statewide fly-around, ending at Atlanta airport, and warned that intimidation attempts may occur.

History

Historical Context

In September 1972, eight Black September gunmen seized the Israeli Olympic team in Munich, killing eleven athletes, coaches and officials before a botched West German rescue ended in all hostages’ deaths. The tragedy spurred Israel’s long-running Mossad reprisals and prompted German security reforms. Decades later, the 2024 Georgia airport bomb scare involving Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger invoked those same heightened security protocols.

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Story summary

Brad Raffensperger's campaign stop at the Macon-Bibb County airport was halted when a suspicious item was found inside a vending machine.
The Bibb County sheriff’s office deployed a bomb squad and search dogs, which swept the area and found no hazardous device.
No staff or patrons were inside the airport, so no injuries occurred.
Raffensperger resumed his statewide fly-around, ending at Atlanta airport, and warned that intimidation attempts may occur.

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