FBI links hoax bomb threats in battleground states to Russia

Hoax bomb threats, many of which appeared to originate from Russian e-mail domains, were directed on Nov 5 at polling locations in five battleground states - Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - as election day voting was under way, said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

"None of the threats has been determined to be credible thus far," it added, noting that election integrity is among its highest priorities.

At least two polling sites targeted by the hoax bomb threats in Georgia were briefly evacuated.

Those two locations in Fulton County reopened after about 30 minutes, officials said, and the county sought a court order to extend the location's voting hours past the statewide 7pm deadline.

Georgia's secretary of state, Mr Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, blamed Russian interference for the bomb hoaxes.