Shoppers were rushed out of Springfield Town Center on Tuesday evening after Fairfax County police received a bomb threat shortly before 5:30 p.m. Officers quickly secured the property, shut down entrances as a precaution, and called in the department's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit to search the mall.
Police said they were alerted after a person reported receiving a bomb threat from an unknown number, according to Daily Voice. As officers and the bomb squad worked the scene, authorities urged people to steer clear of the area while the investigation unfolded, the outlet reported.
Where this happened
Springfield Town Center is a major regional shopping hub at 6500 Springfield Mall in Springfield, Virginia. Reopened in 2014 as a town-center style property, it features more than 150 stores, according to Wikipedia.
Recent security incidents
The mall has already seen several high-profile security scares this year. In February, a shooting wounded a 19-year-old and led to an arrest, according to NBC4 Washington. The previous month, Fairfax County detectives arrested a man who allegedly brandished a firearm inside the mall, as detailed in a Fairfax County Police Department news release.
As of Tuesday night, Fairfax County police had not released additional details about the bomb threat. Officials continued asking people to avoid the area while the investigation proceeds, and anyone with information is urged to contact Fairfax County police, Daily Voice reported.
