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All-clear given after bomb threat closes Altoona shopping center Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT THE SUNSHINE AND 40’S IN YOUR FORECAST. TODD: A BOMB SCARE AT TARGET. THE ALTOONA STORE WAS EVACUATED TODAY AFTER SOMEONE MADE A THREAT OVER THE PHONE. LAURA: KCCI’S HANNAH HILYARD IS LIVE JUST OFF OF 8TH STREET SOUTHWEST, WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED. HANNAH: YEAH, IT IS PRETTY CALM HERE NOW, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE EARLIER TODAY. POLICE PRESENCE OUTSIDE OF THE TARGET. MANY PEOPLE WERE COMING UP TO US ASKING WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT CAME AT -- AS A CALL FOR GIFT CARDS, BUT THEN IT TURNED DARK, THE PRESENT ALLUDING TO THE FACT BOMBS WERE SET UP AT THE STORE. >> WE DON’T KNOW WHO CALLED AT THIS POINT, AND WE DON’T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER TO TRACE BACK. HANNAH: ALTOONA POLICE QUICKLY EVACUATED THE ENTIRE STORE AND STAPLES NEXT DOOR. EMERGENCY CREWS DIVERTED TRAFFIC, NOT ALLOWING ANYONE INTO THE PARKING. ALTOONA POLICE CALLED IN DES MOINES POLICE WITH BOMB DOGS WHO YOU CAN SEE WENT CAR-TO-CAR TO SEARCH FOR ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING >> NO, THERE’S NO VALIDATION THAT THIS WAS AN ACCURATE THREAT. HANNAH: WITHIN TWO HOURS, THE SCENE WAS CLEAR AND IT WAS BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR TARGET EMPLOYEES AND SHOPPERS. >> IT WENT PRETTY SMOOTH. WE TRAIN FOR THESE SITUATIONS, AND OUR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OFFICIALS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER AGENCIES, THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE DES MOINES POLICE DEPARTMENT HELPED, AS WELL. HANNAH: AN INTERESTING FACT HERE, DART BUSES TOOK EMPLOYEES FROM TARGET AND SHIPPED THEM JUST ACROSS THE STREET TO THE VILLAGE INN HERE WHERE THE EMPLOYEE IS KIND OF WAITED FOR THE ALL CLEAR ABOUT TWO HOURS