Maine newspaper receives threat against Portland police

PORTLAND, Maine — Staff members of the Portland Press Herald newspaper were recipients of an email threat against the city’s police department that has generated wide attention.

The staff members received the threat on Wednesday morning. The Press Herald reports the sender said they intended to ‘‘shoot and kill as many police officers’’ as possible while positioned on top of a parking garage.

The newspaper shared the email with police. Police Chief Michael Sauschuck held a news conference.

Sauschuck says the department is taking the threat seriously. He says it is currently under investigation.

Sauschuck says the parking garage in question will be closed. He says no explosives were found at the garage and the location was cleared. He declined to talk about the source of the email.