Search at JB mall continues after hundreds evacuated

 

The scene outside a Johor Bahru mall this evening after shoppers were evacuated following a bomb threat. (Pic posted by Arif E on twitter.com)

PETALING JAYA: Police were continuing their sweep of a shopping mall in Johor Bahru late tonight, hours after hundreds were evacuated when a bomb threat was phoned in by an unidentified caller.

Panic gripped shoppers as they were told to leave the mall immediately, with some remarking on social media that it was almost like a scene from the movies. Guests of the St Giles Hotel were also evacuated, the management said in a statement.

The phone call came from an unidentified person at about 6pm, and the mall’s auxiliary police swiftly evacuated all shoppers. The mall at Mid Valley Southkey contains 2.5 million sq ft of retail area, with 260 retail outlets on six floors.

Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat said an extensive operation was under way with about 100 police personnel and a dog unit, together with the fire and rescue department. A 100m-wide traffic cordon was set up to deter people from entering the area.

“We are sweeping every single inch of all floors of this mall. And as you know, it is a huge place, so we have asked all shoppers to leave,” Kamarul told FMT earlier this evening. “CCTV footage is also being looked at closely. We have everything under control and we urge the public to remain calm,” he said.

Malaysiakini quoted him as saying at 9.30pm that the ground floor and car park had all been checked and nothing was found. “Within the building, we were only able to check areas that were not closed. For those that have closed, we need cooperation from the lot owners,” he was quoted as saying.

“Nothing has been found. There are no explosives.”

The management of the mall and the St Giles Hotel next door confirmed that a security threat was received via an anonymous phone call, and the police and fire and rescue department were immediately informed.

Golden Screen Cinemas cancelled all movie showings in the mall and closed from 6.30pm onwards. Patrons who had purchased tickets would be refunded, the cinema management said in a statement. - FMT