5 bomb threats reported at Kroger locations in Tri-State, police say

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Multiple Kroger stores in the Tri-State evacuated due to bomb threats Saturday and were thoroughly searched and cleared by police.

Cincinnati police say they received a call at about 12:30 p.m. about a bomb threat at the Kroger on Marburg Avenue in Oakley.

Customers were evacuated while the store was searched and nothing was found, according to police.

“I think it’s sad people travel to Kroger so they can get nutritious food, so to be afraid to go here is very sad,” said shopper Badriyyah Salaam.

Police said the Oakley Kroger opened back up around 4 p.m.

Similar situations were reported earlier Saturday but in Northern Kentucky.

Officers were called to the Bellevue and Newport Kroger locations for the report of bomb threats.

“As I went into the store, they told us we all gotta leave and be evacuated because of a threat...didn’t tell us what it was - then they said they were getting the bomb-sniffing dogs,” said James Bronson, who was shopping at the Kroger in Newport.

A bomb detection K9 was activated at the Newport location and officers and Kroger staff evacuated the building within minutes, according to Newport Police.

Police said that the Newport location resumed normal business at approximately noon.

Some shoppers who were evacuated say they had a feeling it was a false alarm.

“I kind of just assumed it was a prank or joke,” Bronson said. “I hear about these things on the news. I was never too concerned; maybe that’s stupid of me but I just always assumed it was someone having fun or someone pissed off trying to get even with Kroger, but I never thought it was a serious threat myself.”

Other shoppers, however, took the bomb threat more seriously.

“It’s just sad and scary,” said Erika McKinney, who witnessed the scene while police were evacuating customers and Kroger staff.

“You don’t know what could happen in a second and it’s like all these employees out here, they losing money....no one can go in there to shop - I mean, it’s just scary.”

Kenton County Police said that another bomb threat was reported at Cold Springs Kroger near NKU shortly before 1:30 p.m. and closed for almost two hours.

Also, Erlanger Police said they responded to a bomb threat at Erlanger Kroger around 1 p.m. Police cleared the scene at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Bellevue police said they believe this is part of a nationwide hoax.

There is an ongoing investigation into these incidents, and Campbell County Dispatch has said to call their tip line at 859-261-TIPS to leave an anonymous tip or Campbell County Dispatch’s office at 859-292-3622.

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