A Utah target was evacuated and a bomb squad called after multiple threats were made against stores across the state and five in Ohio after the company’s annual Pride collection unleashed the fury.
A Layton target – located at 810 West 2000 North – was evacuated after receiving several bomb threats. A bomb squad and a K9 unit were deployed to the store around 1 p.m., according to KTV.
All staff and customers have been directed to the parking lot.
Police said stores in Layton, Salt Lake, Taylorsville and Provo were threatened. Authorities became aware of the threats after local news stations received emails threatening danger and referencing the company’s controversial new Pride collection.
Five targets in northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania were also threatened, according to Cleveland 19who received a threatening email listing stores in Stow, North Canton, Boardman, Niles, Ohio and Monaca, Pennsylvania.
A Layton target – located at 810 West 2000 North – was evacuated after receiving several bomb threats. A deminer and a K9 unit were deployed to the store around 1 p.m.
Police said stores in Layton, Salt Lake, Taylorsville and Provo were threatened. Authorities became aware of the threats after local news stations received emails threatening danger and referencing the company’s controversial Pride collection.
‘The target is full of [redacted] cowards who turned their backs on the LGBT community and decided to cater to right-wing homophobes, hicks, fanatics, who protested and vandalized their store,’ the email to Cleveland 19 read. We will not sit idly by as the far right continues to hunt us down.
“We are sending you a message, we have placed a bomb in the following targets,” the email continues. “We will continue to bomb your targets until you stop cowering and bring back your LBGT merchandise.
“We will not be erased, we will not go quietly.”
Cleveland 19 reported the threatening email to all local police forces and the FBI.
Layton Police Sergeant John Ottesen told KUTV that the threats made in Utah came from a “fake email address”.
Target announced earlier this week that certain products would be removed from its Pride collection.
Five targets in northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania were also threatened, according to Cleveland 19, which received a threatening email listing stores in Stow, North Canton, Boardman, Niles, Ohio and Monaca, Pennsylvania.
The email accused Target of being “cowards” and said they would continue to bomb your targets until you stop cowering and bring back your LBGT merchandise. We won’t be erased, we won’t go quietly’
This was after a series of angry mothers took to Twitter and TikTok to complain. In recent weeks, the retail giant has been vilified by families – especially mothers – for putting transgender clothes, books and greeting cards in its stores.
Amid outrage and confusion over a range of women’s ‘tuck friendly’ swimwear, the company released a statement to insist the suits were only available in adult sizes.
“Since introducing this year’s collection, we have experienced threats affecting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being at work,” Target said in a statement.
“Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing elements that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior,” said Kayla Castaneda, crisis communications manager.
The company did not specify which items were removed from the shelves. Many of the swimsuits, onesies and t-shirts that sparked outrage remain available online.
Her partnership with Eric Cullen, a British transgender man, whose brand Abprallen celebrates Satanism, is also sparking growing outrage.
Target announced earlier this week that certain products would be removed from its Pride collection.
Outrage and confusion sparked a line of women’s ‘tuck friendly’ swimwear
Target is selling two of the brand’s items — a $25 slogan sweater with the words “cure transphobia, not trans people” wrapped around a sword, a $18 “too weird for here” tote bag and a “we belong everywhere” fanny pack that now looks sold out.
Eric – a transgender man – proudly shared photos of the collaboration on Instagram.
“These have already made transphobes mad at me and I feel like a celebrity to think they believe this is all one big conspiracy and that I have the power to brainwash anyone while I’m just a guy who draws pictures!” he said.
A closer look at his other work reveals more sinister material.
Badges with slogans such as “Satan respect pronouns”, “Young, Queer and Willing” and a lighter lapel pin with the words “burn down the cis-tem” are among other products.
He also modeled the “Satan Respects Pronouns” t-shirt on an Instagram page while wearing BDSM-style horns and no pants.
