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| Tesco stores shut after threats | Tesco stores shut after threats |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Fourteen Tesco stores across the UK have been closed by police following a series of threats. | Fourteen Tesco stores across the UK have been closed by police following a series of threats. |
| Police have launched a criminal investigation but say they do not believe there is a link to extremism. | Police have launched a criminal investigation but say they do not believe there is a link to extremism. |
| Hertfordshire Constabulary, which is leading the investigation, said the stores were closed as a precaution and no-one had been hurt. | Hertfordshire Constabulary, which is leading the investigation, said the stores were closed as a precaution and no-one had been hurt. |
| One of the stores has since reopened and Tesco says all the others will be open again by Sunday morning. | |
| Tesco stores were closed at Port Talbot, south Wales, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and Market Harborough and Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. | Tesco stores were closed at Port Talbot, south Wales, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and Market Harborough and Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. |
| Other branches shut were in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Hucknall, Notts; Hereford and Ledbury, both in Herefordshire; and Barnes, south west London. | |
| The latter of these was the first to be reopened on Saturday evening. | |
| Scottish branches of the supermarket were also closed in East Renfrewshire and Fife. | Scottish branches of the supermarket were also closed in East Renfrewshire and Fife. |
| Police said other stores were closed in regions covered by their forces in Lancashire and Humberside. | Police said other stores were closed in regions covered by their forces in Lancashire and Humberside. |
| 'Go home' | 'Go home' |
| Darren, an employee from the Ashby de la Zouch store said staff were told to evacuate the shop. | Darren, an employee from the Ashby de la Zouch store said staff were told to evacuate the shop. |
| "We were allowed to go back in to get our belongings," he said. "We had to be as quick as we possibly could. | "We were allowed to go back in to get our belongings," he said. "We had to be as quick as we possibly could. |
| A reader sent in this picture of the deserted Tesco store in Port Talbot | A reader sent in this picture of the deserted Tesco store in Port Talbot |
| "We were informed briefly that the store was going to be closed for the rest of the day and we could go home straight away." | "We were informed briefly that the store was going to be closed for the rest of the day and we could go home straight away." |
| The Tesco store in Barrhead was closed at about 1230 BST on Saturday. | The Tesco store in Barrhead was closed at about 1230 BST on Saturday. |
| Police initially closed off the car park leading to the store and several other neighbouring shops, but it was opened within an hour. | Police initially closed off the car park leading to the store and several other neighbouring shops, but it was opened within an hour. |
| A worker at a nearby shop said police had told him the store had been shut after receiving a bomb threat, along with several other supermarkets across the country. | A worker at a nearby shop said police had told him the store had been shut after receiving a bomb threat, along with several other supermarkets across the country. |
| 'Vigilant' | 'Vigilant' |
| Martin Jacklin was shopping in a Tesco store in Hucknall, Notts, when shoppers were told to take their shopping to the tills and leave at about 1415 BST. | Martin Jacklin was shopping in a Tesco store in Hucknall, Notts, when shoppers were told to take their shopping to the tills and leave at about 1415 BST. |
| He said: "Me, the wife and the children were in there, basically just doing a normal shop and it came over the tannoy that we were asked to leave, basically, go to the cashier, pay for your groceries and then leave. | He said: "Me, the wife and the children were in there, basically just doing a normal shop and it came over the tannoy that we were asked to leave, basically, go to the cashier, pay for your groceries and then leave. |
| "It was quite smoothly done. We spoke to a woman outside who worked there, she said she was just told to leave, not even to clock off, just to go." | "It was quite smoothly done. We spoke to a woman outside who worked there, she said she was just told to leave, not even to clock off, just to go." |
| A spokeswoman from Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "Police in Hertfordshire have launched a criminal investigation following a series of threats made to 14 Tesco stores across the country." | A spokeswoman from Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "Police in Hertfordshire have launched a criminal investigation following a series of threats made to 14 Tesco stores across the country." |
| The force is leading the nationwide investigation because the retailer has its headquarters in the county. | The force is leading the nationwide investigation because the retailer has its headquarters in the county. |
| The spokeswoman continued: "While the public are advised to remain vigilant we have no reason to believe that the incidents are linked to extremism of any kind. | The spokeswoman continued: "While the public are advised to remain vigilant we have no reason to believe that the incidents are linked to extremism of any kind. |
| "Every effort is being made to trace those involved." | "Every effort is being made to trace those involved." |
| Tesco is believed to have lost millions of pounds worth of business as a result of the closures. | Tesco is believed to have lost millions of pounds worth of business as a result of the closures. |
| A Tesco spokeswoman said: "Tesco is working with the police following a series of incidents. | A Tesco spokeswoman said: "Tesco is working with the police following a series of incidents. |
| "Police are investigating and so we are unable to comment further." | "Police are investigating and so we are unable to comment further." |
| She added: "As always, customer welfare is our priority." | She added: "As always, customer welfare is our priority." |