Authorities were likely prepared for any attacks targeting the Democratic National Convention. However, what they’re investigating isn’t a suspected shooter or bag of homemade explosives. The threat was found inside food.
The FBI are working with authorities from the Chicago Police Department to investigate an incident that occurred Wednesday morning at the Fairmont Hotel, where delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and South Dakota were being hosted.
Police say guests received reports of maggots being found in their breakfast that was prepared for a DNC-related event with an appearance by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, per WGN Investigates. A hotel spokesperson told reporters the staff worked immediately to clean and sanitize the area.
However, that still leaves the question of how the maggots even got there in the first place.
Now, authorities are investigating the incident as an intentional act. Security for the convention released a statement saying multiple “unknown female offenders” are alleged to have entered the hotel building on the North Columbus Drive side and began placing “unknown objects onto tables containing food,” before fleeing the area, the report says.
The incident came hours before the DNC featured speakers who were previously held captive by Hamas back in October. Pro-Palestinian activists nationally have criticized the Democratic Party for supporting President Joe Biden in backing Israel’s relentless terror on Gaza. Ahead of the convention, up to 20,000 people marched to the convention’s location calling for a cease-fire, per AP News.
“All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy. We thank the security team for responding swiftly,” said Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Barloga.
It’s unclear how many people got their grub on before they identified the parasites, but authorities said one person was treated and released on scene.