For the second consecutive year, the Motor City Furry Convention was rocked by a bomb threat, causing hundreds of attendees to be evacuated from the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Creek. The threat, which emerged just before 9 a.m. yesterday, forced convention-goers to leave their rooms and gather at safer grounds, such as the adjacent golf course. According to FOX 2, the alarming message warned of multiple bombs and urged for the immediate evacuation of the building.
Last year's event was also marred by a similar incident, which has unsettlingly become a pattern for the annual gathering that celebrates the anthropomorphic lifestyle. The convention officials, however, managed to handle the situation efficiently, with the hotel being cleared for re-entry shortly after 12:30 p.m. "Next time we will kill you without warning, repent for your sins. We are here to send a message not kill anyone so it is imperative you evacuate the building," the threat read, in a clear violation of peace, according to the FOX 2 report.
The Detroit Free Press revealed that although the specifics of the threat were not disclosed, both police and hotel staff managed to orchestrate a smooth evacuation. In a display of community spirit, social media posts showed attendees making the best of the situation, with one user setting up a water station and another describing the involuntary gathering as a "lawn party."
"Some people went home, but a lot stayed around to have a bit of a lawn party. I’ve stayed around to catch up with friends (and sober up a bit), it's been all-in-all alright," an attendee named Scoops told The Detroit Free Press. The convention was able to pick up where it left off after the all-clear was given, wrapping up with its planned lineup, which included a charity auction.
Meanwhile, WWJ Newsradio spoke to other attendees who noted that such threats are not uncommon in the furry community, with other events having faced similar security concerns. The Ypsilanti police, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office, and the Ann Arbor Marriott did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As of now, no injuries or explosives have been reported, marking the unfortunate incident as yet another false alarm for the furry community.
