HarmonyCon 2019 >Implying We Can Evacuate For a Bomb Threat

Friday February 8, 2019. 23:45. The gentlemen of Horse News were relaxing in the /mlp/ party suite at HarmonyCon. I had just given the fifteen minute warning that the party would be over at midnight and I would be going to sleep. We were watching Sunoharasou no Kanrinin-san, better known as "Hey Kid Wanna /SS/: The Animated Series."

あらあら

Why am I incriminating myself like this, especially about something that has nothing to do with horses? To demonstrate our fear while we stood in a freezing parking lot at SWATCon.

Let's start over.

Friday February 8, 2019. 23:45. As the gentlemen of Horse News were finishing their Bible study, the fire alarm started going on. This was not out of the ordinary, as we have all experienced wacky con pranks like someone pulling the fire alarm. I poured myself a beer and ushered everyone from the room. As we entered the atrium, someone resembling a police officer directing everyone to "exit faster." This was questionable but not particularly suspicious to half a dozen people in variable states of intoxication.

It wasn't until we actually left the building that the gravity of the situation set in. There were at least 7 cop cars that had surrounded the hotel entrance, and a dozen police officers in different levels of tactical gear. I have yet to encounter a fire alarm that required AR-15s to turn off. This was when our intrepid reporter ShellShock turned on his twitter livestream.

https://t.co/G2WptexRp1

— Shell Shock @HarmonyCon (@ShellShockBP) February 9, 2019

We huddled in the parking lot of an art store across from the hotel for almost an hour while we watched the police respond and Chelis T-Pose at cars. Despite the cold, we did our best to keep morale high between color commentary on the stream and a parking lot rave.

While anons attempted to argue that they had heard gunshots, we were unable to find anyone willing to go on the record saying they had heard gunshots or seen anyone with a gun.

At 0100 we were herded into the Courtyard Marriott that's adjacent to the Crowne Plaza where we sheltered in their lobby, conference rooms, and rooms until 0215 when we were let back into the hotel.

As it stands, we have received an official statement from HarmonyCon about the situation. Addison PD has not offered up information aside from what's been available on social media.

We would like to thank PurpleTinker for generously pay for food and shelter for con refugees, and the various anons that shitposted their hearts out to keep morale high.

We will update this story as we receive more information or more pictures.

Update: 11. Feb 2019
According to several local news sources who also reported on the incident, it was determined that the situation was indeed a prank call that got the attention of the Dallas PD.

From WBAP News/Talk [Link]:
ADDISON – WBAP/KLIF –  Investigation is underway to find the man who called Addison Police around midnight Friday, claiming he was holding a woman hostage and had placed two bombs in a room of Addison’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.  The threat caused guests and hotel employees to be evacuated from around midnight through 2:30 am Saturday, when SWAT teams and a bomb sniffing dog revealed the threat was a hoax.
Desk personnel at a nearby Marriott Hotel described as many as 80 guests descending onto their lobby clad in pajamas; many in bare feet left outside in the parking lot in temperatures in the upper 30s.
Most guests returned to their rooms once police determined there was no threat, no hostage and no bombs.  Police say they will find the responsible caller and he will face several serious charges.