The Casa Rosada, seat of the Argentine government, and the Defense Ministry had to be evacuated this Thursday night due to a bomb threat. After a few calls shortly before 8 a.m., employees of the federal police, together with members of the demolition squad and the fire brigade, took part in a search for explosives with negative results.
The warnings were made through phone calls to 911. However, the threats did not change the President’s agenda, which called for Alberto Fernández to be present at the Ministry of Defense tonight to attend the annual Armed Forces Camaraderie Dinner alongside Minister Jörg Taiana.
“Argentina, our home country, will celebrate four decades of uninterrupted democracy over the next year. What should make us proud is overshadowed by hate speech that is being sown in society to increase division and discouragement,” said the Argentine President in his pre-dinner speech.
The threats come weeks after a man tried to assassinate Argentina Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner with a gun outside her home in the upscale Recoleta neighborhood. Fernando Sabag Montiel managed to get close to Kirchner and fire the gun inches from his face, but no bullet came out and the vice president escaped unharmed. Since then, the Peronist government has increased security measures to prevent new threats.
Late last year, the Casa Rosada received another bomb threat. On this occasion, the security operation was in charge of the military house, and after checking the building in front of the central Plaza de Mayo, it was decided not to evacuate the building’s staff.