Moscow's luxury department store TsUM was evacuated Monday following a bomb threat warning, a news report said.
Roughly 200 people were evacuated from the building on Moscow's central Ulitsa Petrovka after an anonymous caller reported a pending bomb attack, Interfax reported, citing the Interior Ministry press service.
TsUM representatives did not confirm the bomb warning, Forbes.ru reported, but several social media users posted pictures of people waiting outside the building and fire engines at the scene, with one Twitter user saying shoppers were "in shock."
The bomb warning is the second to scare the capital in two days, with shopping center Mega Khimki in Moscow's suburbs evacuated on Sunday following a similar call, though no explosive devices were found on the scene.
Police are still trying to identify the caller who, if found guilty of a bomb hoax, could face up to three years in prison, Forbes.ru reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
