A bomb threat targeting the Rizhsky market in northern Moscow has been declared a hoax, as checks by police revealed no explosive devices on the site, the state-run TASS news agency reported Monday, citing an unidentified source from the security services.
An unknown caller contacted the police and told them that an explosive device had been planted in the market. After receiving the phone call, police evacuated 2,000 people from the area.
Police with sniffer dogs then checked the area for explosives, but did not find any, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Police are searching for the person who made the call, according to the security services source.
If caught, the hoax caller faces a three-year jail sentence.
