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Tesco to reopen threatened stores | Tesco to reopen threatened stores |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A number of Tesco stores across the UK which were closed by police after a series of threats, are expected to reopen for normal Sunday trading. | A number of Tesco stores across the UK which were closed by police after a series of threats, are expected to reopen for normal Sunday trading. |
Britain's biggest retailer is understood to have lost millions of pounds in sales as 14 stores were forced to shut on Saturday afternoon. | Britain's biggest retailer is understood to have lost millions of pounds in sales as 14 stores were forced to shut on Saturday afternoon. |
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. |
One line of inquiry is of a possible financial motive behind the threats. | One line of inquiry is of a possible financial motive behind the threats. |
Hertfordshire Police, which is leading the investigation, said the stores were closed as a precaution and no-one had been hurt. | Hertfordshire Police, which is leading the investigation, said the stores were closed as a precaution and no-one had been hurt. |
'Go home' | 'Go home' |
One store in Barnes, south west London, reopened on Saturday evening and Tesco says all the others should be open again by Sunday morning. | |
Tesco stores were closed in Port Talbot, south Wales, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and Market Harborough and Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. | Tesco stores were closed in Port Talbot, south Wales, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and Market Harborough and Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. |
Other branches shut down were in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Hucknall, Notts; Hereford and Ledbury, both in Herefordshire; and Barnes, south west London. | Other branches shut down were in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Hucknall, Notts; Hereford and Ledbury, both in Herefordshire; and Barnes, south west London. |
It came over the tannoy that we were asked to leave - basically, go to the cashier, pay for your groceries and then leave Martin Jacklin, Tesco customer | It came over the tannoy that we were asked to leave - basically, go to the cashier, pay for your groceries and then leave Martin Jacklin, Tesco customer |
And some Scottish branches of the supermarket were also closed in East Renfrewshire and Fife. | And some 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. |
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. |
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 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. |
"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." |
'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 Police 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 Police 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." |
A Tesco spokeswoman said: "Tesco is working with the police following a series of incidents. As always, customer welfare is our priority." | A Tesco spokeswoman said: "Tesco is working with the police following a series of incidents. As always, customer welfare is our priority." |