The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI and other security agencies in the US are investigating an outbreak of offensive, racially targeted text messages received by black people across the U.S.
Black Americans across the U.S. are receiving disturbing racist texts instructing them to report to “plantations” and warning that they would be “picked up” in vans.
The messages, which emerged shortly after Election Day, predominantly targeted Black individuals and included language with references to slavery.
The FBI’s involvement follows calls from recipients and civil rights groups condemning the messages, citing heightened fears of racial violence.
Investigators are working to trace the origins, suspecting a virtual private network (VPN) used to mask the sender’s identity, possibly originating abroad.
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Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesperson, strongly denied any connection to the messages amid speculations, emphasizing that the campaign had “absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.”
The incident has prompted national outcry, with local and federal authorities urging anyone receiving threatening messages to report them.
The messages have been described by many as both “alarming” and “threatening.” Recipients, including students, report feeling unsafe and targeted.
In response, the FBI and Justice Department via its official X social media handle said it has launched an investigation, urging anyone affected to report incidents to local law enforcement as they work to track the origins.
