A Target in Utah has been evacuated and an explosive squad has been dispatched as a result of multiple threats made against stores across the state and five in Ohio after the company’s annual Pride collection sparked outrage.

A Layton Target at 810 West 2000 North was evacuated after receiving numerous explosives threats. At 1pm, a K9 unit and an explosive squad were dispatched to the store, as reported by KUTV.

The parking lot was marked for all employees and customers.

The police received reports of threats to businesses in Layton, Salt Lake City, Taylorsville, and Provo. Authorities were made aware of the threats after local news stations received letters containing death threats and references to the company’s controversial new Pride collection.

Five Target locations in Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania were also threatened, according to Cleveland 19, which received a threatening email mentioning stores in Stow, North Canton, Boardman, Niles, and Monaca, Ohio.

‘Target is full of [redacted] cowards who turned their back on the LGBT community and decided to cater to homophobic right wing, redneck, bigots, who protested and vandalized their store,’ the email to Cleveland 19 read. ‘We won’t stand idly by as the far right continues to hunt us down.

‘We are sending you a message, we placed a bomb in the following Targets,’ the email continued. ‘We will continue to bomb your Targets until you stop cowering and bring back your LBGT merchandise.

‘We will not be erased, we won’t go quietly.’

Cleveland 19 notified the FBI and all local law enforcement agencies about the threatening email.

According to Layton Police Sergeant John Ottesen, the threats made in Utah were sent from a “bogus email address.”

This week, Target issued a statement announcing the discontinuation of several items from their Pride collection.

More on this story via The Republic Brief:

It happened after a number of irate mothers vented on Twitter and TikTok. The retail behemoth has come under fire in recent weeks from families, especially moms, for stocking transgender apparel, books, and greeting cards.

After a series of ‘tuck friendly’ female swimsuits provoked outrage and confusion, the business issued a statement to insist the suits were only offered in adult sizes. CONTINUE READING…