Local authorities investigated a bomb threat in Fairhope leading up the city's New Year's Eve celebration.

On the evening of Dec. 31, 2024, the Fairhope Police Department cordoned off a section of downtown Fairhope after a local business received a threat of an explosive device. The city received the threat through an online service request form and named a local resident.

While authorities investigated the matter, parts of Fairhope Avenue and Church Street to Section De la Mare Avenue were closed off. There was no evidence other than the threat itself, but police adhered to protocol as a precautionary measure.

The Mobile Police Bomb Squad and a K9 Team from Orange Beach cleared the area and found no sign of explosive devices, with the area eventually being reopened and Fairhope's New Year's Eve celebrations continuing as scheduled.

On social media, the police department stated threat turned out to be the result of a swatting prank.

"In response to an incident that took place on New Year's Eve, law enforcement teams confirmed there was no credible threat regarding explosive devices, and they continue to investigate the origin of the incident," the department said in a social media post. "A bomb threat was directed to the City of Fairhope, targeting a downtown business that night. The threat named a local resident as the sender, but it was later discovered to be the result of a video game hack and a 'swatting' prank."

Swatting is an illegal prank that involves falsely reporting an emergency and sending authorities to another person's address as a means of harassment, disrupting emergency services and first responders.

No other details were given about the incident, but the police department said they plan to press charges against those involved.

"Although the threat was baseless, investigators will persist in their investigation with the aim of pressing charges against the perpetrator, even though many 'swatting' incidents originate overseas," the department said on social media following its investigation.