Bloemfontein shopping centre evacuated

A shopping centre in Bloemfontein was evacuated on Thursday morning after a bomb threat, News24 reported. The news aggregator quoted a tweet from OFM reporting eyewitnesses describing a hostage situation at the centre.

BREAKING NEWS: Eyewitness says hostage situation in Bloem now going on for about 30 minutes. Heavy police presence.
— OFM News (@OFMNews9497) July 31, 2014

Reports are coming in that an anonymous caller said that a bomb would detonate at 11 am. After this, the entire centre was quickly evacuated.

BREAKING NEWS: ‘Phonecaller said bomb would detonate at around 11:00 in Bloemfontein center’ http://t.co/B2tdgXHzAU
— OFM News (@OFMNews9497) July 31, 2014

The city's bomb squad was quickly deployed to help with the search for the possible device. About an hour after the evacuation started, the centre was still being searched, but no device has been found.

K9-unit still sweeping the mall after bomb threat earlier. #bombthreatBloemfontein
— OFM News (@OFMNews9497) July 31, 2014

People on the Twittersphere expressed shock, but also viewed the situation with humor saying it is quite surprising that anyone would want to bomb Bloemfontein.

A mall in Bloemfontein has been evacuated after a bomb threat. Sorry did I just read that right? Who the f*ck wants to bomb Bloemfontein?
— Quinton not de Kock (@notdekock) July 31, 2014

A bomb threat. It's not everyday that something exciting happens in Bloemfontein.
— Loubser Meyer (@LoupieM) July 31, 2014

Soon after this, the mall was cleared and the situation over.

Things back to normal at Southern Centre Mall in Fichardtpark after allegded bomb threat. pic.twitter.com/rU5v38fLID
— OFM News (@OFMNews9497) July 31, 2014