Target Receives Bomb Threats as Pride Collection Backlash Continues — Retail Bum

The backlash over Pride collection in Target stores has further escalated, with the retailer receiving bomb threats in at least five U.S. states, prompting the evacuation of stores over the weekend.

According to the Washington Post, Target stores in Louisiana, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, and Vermont received email threats from unknown individuals claiming the presence of bombs hidden inside Target stores.

In one such email sent to Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR, the sender listed seven Target store locations and claimed that two of the locations had bombs in them.

“The bombs will detonate in several hours, guess which ones have the bombs. Time is ticking,” the sender wrote in the email, which was dated 4/19/1995, the date of the Oklahoma City bombing.

While authorities in the five states did not find the presence of any bombs inside Target stores, the threats have seemingly put the retailer into the epicenter of the controversy even as it has looked to distance itself from it.

“The safety of our team members and guests is our top priority,” Target said in a statement. “Law enforcement investigated these claims and determined our stores are safe.”