Associated Press
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Patrol says a man suspected of making repeated bomb threats to state agencies is a psychiatrist who had his medical license suspended.
KOMO-TV reports that investigators believe Said Farzad is out of the country. He’s suspected of having made 18 threats to state offices in Olympia and Tumwater, including eight in the past month, and some to Idaho offices as well.
The Department of Health says Farzad’s license was suspended in 2014 after he was accused of calling in threats to an insurance company that rejected some of his patients’ claims.
Authorities say Farzad was last known to be in the U.S. in June. Patrol spokesman John Shaffer said that has presented challenges for investigators trying to stop the threats, which have been called in from various countries.
No bombs have been found and investigators don’t believe he has the capability to do actual harm, but agencies take each threat seriously. Visitors will continue to see an increased police presence including bomb-sniffing dogs.
In 2015, Farzad was convicted of telephone harassment after employees at a Bothell health insurance office reported that he threatened to shoot up the place.
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