Target Stores in Five States Evacuated After Bomb Threats

Target offers candles, photo frames, and lights as part of its LGBT display in a Texas suburb, on May 24, 2023. Darlene McCormick Sanchez/The Epoch Times

Several Target locations throughout the country were reportedly threatened after receiving bomb threats.

Target stores were briefly evacuated in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area on June 10, after receiving what local law enforcement described as “vague bomb” threats, allegedly over the retail chain’s Pride Month merchandise.

Locations in at least five states were also evacuated over the weekend after receiving bomb threats, but no explosives were in any of those locations, The Washington Post reported on June 12.

News outlets in Oklahoma, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Louisiana all received emails from unknown individuals threatening to bomb the retailer in those states.

The emails accused Target of betraying the LGBT community and named the locations of four stores in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.

Vague Bomb Threats Rattle Target Stores Over the Weekend

Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR received an email listing seven locations in the region, claiming that two of the locations already had bombs in them and were hidden inside store products.

“We are going to play a game,” the email said, adding, “We hid the bombs inside some product items,” KFOR reported.

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

KFOR reported that the same bomb threat was sent to several newsrooms and state lawmakers.

“Whether it’s a hoax or not, we have to take it seriously,” said Sgt. Rob Robertson of the Oklahoma City Police Department.

He said that Target stores in Yukon, Moore, Norman, and Oklahoma City had been notified of the threats.

Target released a statement later that evening that all stores in the area had reopened.

“The safety of our team members and guests is our top priority,“ said Target, and that ”law enforcement investigated claims regarding several stores in the Oklahoma City area today and determined these stores are safe. Our stores are currently open and operating regular hours.”

Police chief Shawn Burke, of South Burlington, Vermont, where one of the stores was located, told The Washington Post, “I think it had quite an impact locally”

“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],” Burke added.

Conservatives Continue to Boycott Pro-Gay and Transgender Products

Meanwhile, conservatives have been boycotting Target over its pro-LGBT stance for weeks, causing the retailer to lose much revenue.

Target’s website features Pride Month products, including rainbow shirts for men, pint glasses embellished with “Cheers Queers,” and a children’s book to teach them preferred pronouns.

“Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year,” the company said in a statement, referring to  Gay Pride Month in June.

The company was earlier forced to remove several items, due to protests, including what were described by conservative activists as “tuck-friendly” children’s bathing suits that provided extra coverage for transgender individuals who did not undergo a sex change, in order to conceal their genitalia.

Target executives were forced to hold an emergency meeting in late May in response to protestors posting videos of themselves attacking Gay Pride Month displays and confronting employees in the stores over pro-LGBT merchandise.

The retailer then decided to remove or relocate some of the controversial items to make them less visible in stores.

Since then, Target locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah have received bomb threats allegedly from pro-LGBT militants who said they were upset with the removal of the Pride merchandise, The Washington Post reported.

Target is one of the many corporate brands that have come under fire for pushing pro-LGBT propaganda due to pressure from activist shareholders who promote the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda.

In April, Bud Light beer faced a similar backlash and a massive drop in sales following a boycott over its partnership with transgender personality Dylan Mulvaney.

Retailers such as Kohl’s, Nike, North Face, PetSmart, and Walmart have also faced boycotts for stocking items that push the gay and transgender lifestyle.