The California State Capitol buildings were urgently evacuated on Friday morning following a bomb threat received via email, instigating a significant response from law enforcement and causing disruptions across the state government.

All operations at the Capitol in Sacramento were suspended as officials worked to assess the threat, as the Daily Mail reports.

State senators and their staff were among the first instructed to vacate the premises in Sacramento. The threat, which arrived early in the day, prompted immediate action from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to determine its credibility.

Assembly Members and Staff Alerted

Following the senators, Assembly members and their staff also received notification of the evacuation. The alert was distributed through an email from Lia Lopez, the Assembly Chief Administrative Officer for the Rules Committee, who stated that the situation was being closely monitored by law enforcement.

Lopez highlighted in her memo, "Law enforcement is actively working to determine if the threat is credible," as reported by Politico.

This uncertainty led to the precautionary step of evacuating the Capitol and adjacent Swing Space buildings, as directed by the Joint Rules Committee.

Impact on Capitol's Daily Activities

As the Legislature is currently on recess until early January, the immediate impact on legislative activities was minimal.

However, the evacuation disrupted several planned events, including a tour by two fourth-grade classes from Theodore Judah Elementary School, who were turned away by the CHP as they arrived.

Workers were instructed to work from home until further notice, a directive affecting numerous state employees and disrupting normal operations.

It remains unclear exactly how many individuals were evacuated from the buildings during the incident.

Newsom Confirmed Safe

Amid the unfolding events, Gov. Gavin Newsom was reported to be safe and away from the area, attending a meeting with the Democratic Governors Association in Los Angeles.

Alex Stone, an ABC News reporter, emphasized Newsom's safety by stating the governor was "far away from [the] area."

This assurance came as the CHP conducted a thorough search of the Capitol premises, looking for any potential threats and verifying the validity of the emailed bomb threat.

Historical Context of Capitol Threats

Incidents involving threats to state capitol buildings are not unprecedented. A similar evacuation occurred last month at the Georgia State Capitol, which was prompted by a gas leak caused by construction crews accidentally striking a main gas line.

Such occurrences underline the ongoing security challenges faced by state government facilities across the country, prompting rigorous assessment protocols and immediate response measures to ensure public safety.

State Sen. Susan Rubio commented on the urgency of the situation by confirming to ABC 30, "Everyone was told to leave the building," highlighting the broad scope of the evacuation and the serious nature of the threat.

The situation at the California State Capitol remains fluid as investigations continue. Law enforcement agencies, including the CHP, are working diligently to determine the credibility of the threat and ensure the safety of all individuals involved.

The community and government officials await further updates, hoping for a resolution that will allow them to return to normal operations as swiftly and safely as possible.