Bomb hoax evacuates Safeway in Saskatoon

A scary incident emptied out the Safeway on 33rd street West near avenue C in Saskatoon Saturday morning.

It was evacuated after police said a man called around 11:20 a.m. trying to get money before making gun and bomb threats.

“The phone number related to the call is under investigation with respect to other fraudulent scams,” Staff Sergeant Grant Obst said.

“Our goal was to make sure the public wasn’t in danger and we’re convinced everything is clear.”

More than 15 Safeway employees had to leave the store with a police escort to the nearby Dairy Queen.

“We won’t be commenting on the matter, call Calgary public affairs,” said District Manager for Safeway’s in Saskatoon Todd Leibel.

“The employees are safe and that’s all that matters.”

Obst said the Manager of Safeway was the one who talked to the man making the threats.

“When he started pressing him for his identity the man hung up,” he said.

Obst said in this case police knew this story didn’t hold a lot of water.

“The threat level is up high when you talk about firearms, but it became pretty clear something was up after we investigated further into the call,” he said.

Traffic was rerouted for an hour around the Safeway, but at 12:30 p.m. it was flowing again.

No threats were found, a detection dog was sent through as a precaution.

No arrests or charges have been made.

“There was never any danger and there certainly isn’t anymore,” Obst said.