Target stores in multiple states targeted by bomb threats

Multiple Target department stores in New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin received bomb threats Tuesday.

Several locations in Charlotte, N.C. and near Cincinnati, Ohio were evacuated due to menacing messages, according to authorities.

“This morning numerous bomb threats were made via email to various Target stories throughout Charlotte,” the Charlotte Metropolitan Police Department posted online Tuesday. “At this time, there is no indication of any validity to the threats.”

Charlotte police noted “there appears to be a trend of emails with similar threats made in other states today.”

Ohio station WLWT reported retailers in Anderson Township, Colerain Township and Warren County were temporarily cleared out as were two Target locations in Cincinnati.

“Heightened police activity” was reported in Middletown, N.J., where a store was threatened around 11 a.m., according to local site Tap Into Middletown. That Target operates roughly 40 miles south of New York City.

Police in New Berlin, Wisc., said Tuesday a bomb squad from Milwaukee came to their assistance after “a generic email” threatened a Target store shortly before 10 a.m. A search of that store revealed the threat to be a “hoax” posing no threat to the public.

A similar rash of bomb threats against the Minnesota-based retailer disrupted operations in June while Target was celebrating Pride Month. Promotions geared toward the LGBTQ+ community stoked a fire under right-wing activists, resulting in aggression toward some of Target’s nearly 2,000 U.S. stores.

[ Target pulls some LGBTQ merch amid threats to employees ]

That same month, The Washington Post reported Target operations in at least five states were evacuated during that wave of bomb threats, however no explosives were found.

It’s unclear if Tuesday’s threats were connected to right-wing extremism. Retailers nationwide are busily pushing back-to-school deals. New York City students return to their classrooms next week.