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ST. LOUIS — Authorities on Wednesday said they are investigating online death threats made against the head of the city’s emergency management office, who was placed on leave after a siren system failure before last week’s deadly tornado.

The death threats were discussed hours after Sarah Russell was placed on administrative leave, late Tuesday evening.

“That is inappropriate and horrifying,� St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said in a Wednesday morning press conference. “Our commissioner is a human being and I’m asking for some grace.�

In a release late Tuesday, Spencer said Russell and other City Emergency Management Agency staffers were not at their office, where a button to activate sirens is located — even though strong storms were forecasted. Russell, the release said, called the Fire Department to sound the sirens, but there was a breakdown in communication.

It was still unclear Wednesday whether any of the city’s sirens sounded.

The tornado ripped through north St. Louis on Friday afternoon, damaging thousands of houses and killing five people in the city.

Spencer said during the Wednesday press conference that officials such as herself and Russell need to be held accountable, which is why Russell is on leave.

Spencer has requested an external investigation.

“I also recognize that her job, her role, the role of the CEMA director, is to protect the lives of our all of our community,� the mayor said.

Alderwoman Sharon Tyus, standing behind Spencer, chimed in.

“People are innocent until proven guilty,� she said. “We have to treat people like that.�

St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy confirmed the threats during the press conference, saying the department’s intelligence unit is looking into them.

“We follow up on that,� he said. “We make sure we do a proper investigation, see where it’s coming from, because that’s not acceptable. And we will follow that up with the full extent of the law.�

He said investigators are taking the threats seriously but could not provide additional information.