Shooting forces Mall of America into another lockdown – RT World News
Police respond to reports of gunshots inside iconic Minnesota mall
At least one person was reportedly shot inside the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota on Friday night. Shoppers were ordered to take shelter indoors as several police officers descended on the building, which was locked down for the third time in less than a year.
“Bloomington Police and EMS are at the scene of a reported shooting at the Mall Of America. MOA is in lockdown. Please stay out of the area” police announcement in a tweet shortly after 8 p.m. local time.
The mall itself urged visitors from “please stay in the nearest safe place until the lock is lifted”, in a separate tweet. About an hour later, the venue announced that the lockdown was over and that “Customers must now leave the establishment. »
At least one person was fatally shot, according to Fox Minneapolis, but the death toll has yet to be officially confirmed. The authorities only said that the “The shooting scene has been secured” and that the police were working with mall security and the “Hennepin County Crime Lab to process the area.”
Footage from the scene showed at least half a dozen police, EMS and fire department vehicles near the entrance to the building. Another video captured an announcement through loudspeakers urging those “who are not currently in a safe place” to “Seek shelter immediately.”
The lockdown happened during a busy shopping season just two days before Christmas and marked the third such incident in the past year. Two people were injured in a shooting at America’s biggest mall last New Year’s Eve, while a shooting in August left no one injured but also sparked panic and a brief lockdown.
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