TL/DR –
New Jersey’s American Dream mall was evacuated for a little under two hours on Black Friday due to a bomb threat that turned out to be unfounded. The second largest mall in the country was cleared minutes after it opened when a person told police there was a bomb inside. The mall was deemed safe and returned to normal operations around 9:15 a.m., although the investigation into the threat is still active.
American Dream Mall Evacuated After Bomb Threat on Black Friday
The American Dream megamall in East Rutherford, N.J, second biggest in the country, faced evacuation minutes after opening on Black Friday due to a bomb threat, later determined to be unfounded, according to local police.
At 7:13 a.m. ET, shortly post opening at 7 a.m., an individual notified the police of a bomb inside, which resulted in the immediate clearance of the shopping centre. The New Jersey State Police spokesperson confirmed to CNBC.
Despite bomb and K-9 units scanning the East Rutherford mall and finding no explosive devices, the premises stayed closed until around 9:15 a.m. The mall announced then that it had been deemed safe and would return to normal operations, while remaining an active investigation.
“American Dream was evacuated […] due to a non-credible threat”, the mall stated to CNBC. “The centre has already re-opened. We look forward to a joyous and safe holiday season.”
Phil Murphy, New Jersey Governor, posted about the evacuation on X, formerly Twitter, advising shoppers to follow law enforcement instructions and safely exit. After reopening, he emphasized the need for vigilance during the holiday season.
The evacuation occurred on the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, when huge crowds for the best holiday deals can pose unique risks to retailers. Mass shooting events in retail establishments, such as Walmart, have added to these concerns.
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