Second bomb scare for Caledon Street

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - A criminal case is under investigation after a false bomb threat was made to Shoprite in Graaff-Reinet on Sunday 20 September. "Brian Bouwer, Shoprite Manager, received a call from Shoprite's head office in Cape Town shortly after 14:00, stating that a bomb threat had been made to the store in Graaff-Reinet," local Police Spokesperson, Bradley Rawlinson, told Graaff-Reinet Advertiser on scene.

The Shoprite store on Caledon Street, as well as surrounding businesses, were immediately evacuated. A section of Caledon Street was cordoned off, as well as surrounding streets to divert traffic.

Areas surrounding the scene were relatively quiet, as town usually is on a Sunday, and only a few people gathered at a nearby shop to witness the action from a safe distance. Other motorists and pedestrians were shown away by police members.

The K9 Unit arrived in Graaff-Reinet from Cradock shortly before 17:00 to investigate the threat, followed by the Bomb Explosive Unit, who travelled from Port Elizabeth. "Both units went through the area and couldn't find anything," Rawlinson told Graaff-Reinet Advertiser at 17:40.

Members of the K9 Unit enter the cordoned-off scene.

According to Rawlinson, it is unclear at this stage who made the threat or why. When the developing story was published on the Advertiser's Facebook page on Sunday, there was much speculation by readers that the false threat was perhaps a diversion for other criminal activity in town. However, Rawlinson said that the case is still under investigation. He did not comment further.

Shoprite's management thanked the SAPS for their assistance.

The Cradock K9 Unit arrives in Graaff-Reinet.

Second bomb threat to Caledon Street
Sunday's bomb threat was not the first for Caledon Street, and locals will remember that similar threats were made to two stores on the street on 25 October 2018.

Graaff-Reinet Advertiser reported at the time that, on the day of Ackerman's opening, OK Furniture and the adjacent Herholdts both received calls from an unknown male after 14:00, stating that there was a bomb in each store.

As with the recent case, shops were evacuated, streets were cordoned off and the K9 Unit and PE Explosives Unit were dispatched. Both areas were declared safe by 19:00.

Locals take in the action from a nearby store.