Target stores in at least five states receive bomb threats over Pride items

Target stores in at least five U.S. states had to be evacuated over the weekend after receiving bomb threats, the latest example of backlash the U.S.-based retail chain has received for its Pride month merchandise. 

The Washington Post reported Monday that that news outlets in Oklahoma, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Louisiana received emails from unknown individuals about bomb threats at the stores. 

In one email sent to Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR, which is owned by Nexstar Media Group, the sender listed seven locations in and around Oklahoma City, claiming that two of the locations already had bombs in them, saying they hid the bombs inside of products. 

“The bombs will detonate in several hours, guess which ones have the bombs. Time is ticking,” the email reads, also ending with the date “4/19/1995,” the date of the Oklahoma City bombing.  

Oklahoma City Police Department spokesperson Gary Knight said that several news outlets notified them about the emailed threats, adding that after evacuating the listed stores as a precaution, authorities didn’t find any suspicious items, according to the Post. 

South Burlington (Vt.) police chief Shawn Burke said news outlets in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York all received the same emailed threat to Target stores over the weekend. It accused the retail chain of betraying the LGBTQ+ community and named the locations of four stores in the three states, including the South Burlington location. 

“I think it had quite an impact locally,” Burke said, according to the Post. “It makes people a little bit uneasy to think about what’s going on. We’re more and more seeing this type of behavior in terms of swatting at schools locally and in terms of stores like Target [nationally].” 

Target initially received criticism for its LGBTQ+ initiatives last month, with the retail chain announcing last month it removed some Pride month merchandise in its stores last month after facing backlash from customers, citing concerns about their workers’ safety.

After the announcement, company stores in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah received bomb threats from people who were claiming to be unhappy with the removal of the Pride merchandise, the Post reported. 

The Target controversy has followed a similar arc to Bud Light, which received backlash for its partnership with transgender actress and influencer Dylan Mulvaney. 

In a statement to The Hill, a Target spokesperson said that “the safety of our team members and guests is our top priority. Law enforcement investigated these claims and determined our stores are safe,” adding that their stores are currently open and operating on regular hours. 

This story was updated at 1:20 p.m.