Shoppers had to leave Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota on Monday after bomb threats were called in to multiple stores. Stores in Ames, Johnston, and Perry, Iowa, had police search the premises that evening, according to the Des Moines Register. Nothing was discovered.
Ames Police Department Sgt. Amber Christian said a number of Hy-Vee locations in Iowa, as well as some in South Dakota and Minnesota, had to be cleared when the threats were made, according to the Register. Police are still investigating. With the Ames store, the anonymous caller said they hid a pipe bomb in an aisle inside the premises, as reported by the Iowa State Daily.
According to West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, many grocery stores have been the victim of bomb threats over the last few months.
“In each case, our security team partners with law enforcement, such as the FBI and local law enforcement, and follows their guidance in response to the threat,” Hy-Vee said in a statement. “If this activity persists, we will continue to take each threat seriously and continue to act in the best interest of the safety of our employees and customers.”
