Multiple grocery stores, clinics forced to evacuate after bomb threats in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Multiple grocery stores and clinics in Springfield were forced to evacuate Wednesday due to bomb threats.

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Springfield police confirmed with News Center 7 that two Walmarts, located on N. Bechtle Avenue and S. Tuttle Road, and one Kroger, located on E. Main Street, were evacuated because of bomb threats.

Pregnancy Resource Center of Clark County and Planned Parenthood in Springfield were also evacuated, police confirmed.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, schools, universities, and city and county buildings have also received threats over the past week.

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News Center 7 spoke to parents who said these threats are scary for their kids.

“It’s very scary. You don’t know if it’s actually for real or if somebody is just playing a joke and its not a joke, its very serious. I mean, to get the kids panicked, they don’t even want to go to school some of them,” said Connie Hall.

Hall has a daughter in fifth grade at Snyder Park Elementary School. She said despite the continual threats, her daughter showed up.

Governor Mike DeWine ordered troopers from Ohio State Highway Patrol to be at each of the schools in the district all day. They also sweep the buildings before students get there.

“Yesterday there were two of them out here standing which kind of helps a lot with your anxiety and everything that’s going on,” Hall said. “You got to take each one of them seriously because you never know the time you let up is going to be the time that it actually happens.”

DeWine said he will keep troopers at the school as long as they are needed.

We will continue updating this story.

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