Bomb threat at Target in New Berlin was a hoax, authorities say

A Milwaukee-area Target store was evacuated Tuesday following a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax.

New Berlin police confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the store, 4798 S. Moorland Road, had received an emailed threat shortly before 9:48 a.m. Store officials notified authorities forcing an evacuation on top of a warning on the department's Facebook page to stay away from the area until the situation was cleared.

The Milwaukee Police Department Bomb Squad was called in to complete "a thorough investigation," New Berlin Police Capt. Steve Thompson said in a news release. After a search, they ultimately determined the store was safe − as has been the case elsewhere recently, including two in Ohio on Tuesday.

"Target advised the bomb threat came through a generic email and like instances have been happening to Targets around the country," Thompson said. "The bomb threat was determined to be fake and there is no threat to the public."

Target nationally also recently was forced to weather bomb threats tied to the store's decision to sell LGBQT+ merchandise during Pride Month in June. Reports over the more recent threats did not include any alleged motive, however.

Target receives threats:Target removes LGBTQ Pride month merchandise after threats

Contact Jim Riccioli at (262) 446-6635 or  [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at@jariccioli.

Erik S. Hanley contributed to this report.