Buffalo's City Hall target of bomb threat, vandalism after Somali Independence Day celebrations
· Toronto Sun
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City Hall in Buffalo, N.Y., was hit with a bomb threat, hours after Mayor Sean Ryan said a Somalian flag was stolen.
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Police Commissioner Erika Shields confirmed to reporters Thursday that a bomb threat had been made targeting City Hall, Buffalo News reported.
The threat and vandalism comes after the African nation’s white-and-blue flag was raised in honour of Somali Independence Day on July 1.
While Somali residents appreciated the marking of the day, the tribute came after the mayor announced it was cancelling its Fourth of July fireworks for America’s 250th birthday celebrations.
Vandalism and theft probe
Ryan issued a statement that police are investigating the theft and damage “after unknown vandals broke the access panel, cut the cable, and removed the Somali flag” overnight Wednesday.
“The flag had been raised by an organization called Heal International in honour of Somalian Independence Day. Heal International has been raising the Somali flag at Niagara Square for at least the last four years,” the mayor wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday, noting that other organizations have flown flags of other nations in the public space.
“Buffalo is a proud, diverse city, and our administration remains committed to honouring and celebrating the many cultures that make our community stronger,” he concluded.
It was not immediately known how much the vandalism to the city-owned property cost.
The Somali flag was raised in front of Buffalo City Hall in New York State on 1 July 2026, as the local Somali community gathered to mark Somalia's Independence Day in a ceremony promoted by a Buffalo city council member.
— SONNA (@SONNALIVE) July 1, 2026
From Mogadishu to Buffalo, the flag rose on the same day.… pic.twitter.com/PW24BkxfRG
Why were the Independence Day fireworks cancelled?
The mayor recently sparked outrage after cancelling a city-sponsored Fourth of July fireworks display — days before the Somalian flag was raised.
Ryan said the Independence Day celebration fell through after the hired vendor “raised real questions” about the safety of launching fireworks near City Hall, WGRZ reported.
The mayor’s office said in a statement that read, in part, that “an appropriate site could not be identified that would provide a safe and widely accessible viewing experience for residents.”
Ryan also reiterated that Buffalo hasn’t hosted July 4 fireworks in at least a “generation,” though it has held New Year’s Eve displays while other fireworks shows have taken place in Niagara Square, Delaware Park, LaSalle Park, and other locations, according to the outlet.
Nevertheless, former New York State Republican Party Chair Rep. Nick Langworthy slammed Ryan for the excuse, arguing that it was “choice,” not a “logistical challenge.”
“At a moment when our nation should be celebrating 250 years of freedom, those in charge sent a clear message about what they value, and it wasn’t America,” Langworthy wrote in a Facebook post .
“The people of Buffalo deserve leaders who are proud to celebrate this country, not ones who treat patriotism as an afterthought.”
Buffalo is set to celebrate “Stars Stripes and Signers” at the Buffalo Naval Park and Canalside area as part of ongoing America 250 celebrations.