Several malls in Budapest and in the countryside were under bomb alert – UPDATE

Bomb squad investigators have examined the affected locations. The police told Index news portal that an investigation has been ordered into the source and identity of the bomb threat.

Several shopping centres in Budapest and the countryside are also under bomb alert: the Westend, Arena Plaza and Árkád shopping centres, as well as Kapos Plaza in Kaposvár and a shop in Debrecen have been evacuated.

It’s the same in Westend, they have sent everyone out because of a bomb alert, I’m waiting here

– an Index journalist reported from the scene after 5 pm. One of the security guards told him it would be at least four hours before they could let people back in.

There was a bomb scare in MOM-park and Corvin-plaza and Mammut also.

At Árkád (Zugló), they don’t know when the mall will reopen. It could be half an hour or even two hours

– said the police officer on the spot. People can go to the parking lot to collect their cars.

The communication department of the National Police Headquarters said,

“We have received reports of threats of public danger in several locations in the country. Police bomb investigators are conducting ongoing searches at the locations. No explosives or explosive devices have been found.”

Győr Plaza received an email threat.

BRFK: already under investigation

The BRFK has ordered an investigation into the crime of public threat. The search for the perpetrator is underway and police have taken all necessary measures.

The last time there were bomb attacks in Budapest malls was three weeks ago.

UPDATE

In all cases, the bomb threat was sent by e-mail.

Although there is no precise information yet on how many people had to leave the affected malls because of the bomb scare, tens of thousands of people in Hungary are likely to have been affected.

UPDATE 2

The Central Hospital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, the downtown MÁV Railway Station Office, the Miskolc Plaza and the Szinvapark received bomb threats on Tuesday, the spokesman of the county police headquarters told minap.hu.