Bomb threat closes Swedish shopping mall

Swedish authorities closed the Allum shopping mall in Partille outside Gothenburg on Sunday after receiving 'credible' information about a possible bomb.

Published: 21 February 2016 18:35 CET
Updated: 22 February 2016 08:00 CET

Bomb threat closes Swedish shopping mall

Shortly after 6pm, bomb sniffer dogs were led into the Allum mall by their handlers. Photo: Thomas Johansson / TT

Police received the tip at around 1.30pm and quickly sent officers to the mall.

Employees at the shopping centre were asked to give up their keys.

Shortly after 6pm, bomb sniffer dogs were sent into the mall with their handlers.

Police were also searching the roof of the building.

According to the Aftonbladet newspaper, it was suggested that the threat was linked to a bag left somewhere in the mall.

On a SVT News report a source said that “a realistic threat had been delivered”.

One witness told Aftonbladet: “We were asked to close the shop and vacate immediately. The guards almost shoved us out. Some were calm and walked out, others ran.”

“Allum is a victim of a bomb threat,” Håkan Pekkari, the mall's manager, told the TT news agency.

“We have provided resources to assist the police in case there is an explosion,” Lars Jostelius, of the emergency services in Greater Gothenburg, told TT.

The Swedish security service, Säpo, followed developments, but was not been brought into the operation.

“As is routine with this type of event, we are prepared to assist with our expertise if needed, but it is the police who leads the operation,” Säpo's communications officer, Mark Vadasz, said.