Texas state capitol evacuated after ‘credible threat’ toward lawmakers

The Texas state capitol was evacuated on Saturday after the state’s Department of Public Safety warned of a “credible threat” against legislators, ahead of a planned anti-Trump protest Saturday evening in Austin.

The Texas Department of Public Safety evacuated the Capitol and Capitol grounds Saturday afternoon “out of an abundance of caution,” a statement from the agency read. The statement did not provide any further details on the nature of the threat.

The Texas legislature is not in session. But several Texas lawmakers — and members of Congress — were scheduled to speak at the protest in downtown Austin, which is part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest movement.

The evacuation comes hours after two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers were shot in their homes. One of the politicians, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband were killed in the shooting.