Bomb Threats Rattle Walmart Stores in Kansas, Missouri
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(LEAVENWORTH, Kan.) — Two Walmart stores received bomb threats on Sunday, prompting police to evacuate stores and search for dangerous devices, Kansas police officials said.
The threats in Leavenworth and Lawrence came after at least eight Missouri Walmarts received threats on Friday.
Leavenworth Deputy Police Chief Dan Nicodemus told ABC News that someone called a Walmart in Grand View, Mo., to threaten the Leavenworth location. Grand View Walmart employees called Leavenworth police at 4:27 a.m. on Sunday, he said.
“It’s not how it typically happens, but nonetheless the threat is the same,” Nicodemus said.
Walmart spokesman Dan Fogleman released a statement to ABC News regarding the threats.
“We’re concerned anytime someone makes a threat that might endanger our customers and associates,” he said. “We’re grateful no one was injured. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience. We want to make sure everyone stays safe.”
He said the company would also be working with law enforcement to find the person responsible for the threats.
ABC17 in Columbia, Mo., reported on Friday that Walmarts in Jefferson City, Nixa, Ozark, Raytown, Gladstone and Fredericktown were shut down due to bomb threats.
In all, eight Missouri Walmarts were threatened, according to KMBC-TV, ABC’s Kansas City, Mo., affiliate.
Fredricktown Police Chief Eric Hovis told ABC17 he thinks the Friday threats are related.
The Fredricktown threat came into the Walmart there at 6:45 p.m., he said.
“It was an automated call, and the voice said, ‘There’s a bomb in the building. You have two hours to get everybody out this store. This is not a joke,'” he said.
Officers did not find bombs in any of the threatened stores.
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