Authorities investigate: Were bomb threats at Durham, Knightdale Walmarts linked?

A Walmart in Knightdale was evacuated for a bomb threat around 8:30. As of noon, it had reopened.

The Wake County Sheriff's Office confirmed a bomb threat at the Walmart at 7106 Knightdale Blvd. A man called the store to say he placed devices around the building, threatening to detonate them unless he was given a certain amount of money.

At 10:30, police said there didn't appear to be a threat inside the store. Everyone had safely evacuated.

After three hours of looking through the inside of the building for clues, the 'all clear' sign was given at 11:45. Bomb-sniffing dogs and drones were used.

"The content of those demands lead us to believe there are other issues at play," said Knightdale Police Chief Lawrence Capps.

“We are grateful for the outcome in the incident,” Capps said. “Although this threat was unfounded, I am pleased with the way our officers and our area partners came together to resolve it. The combined response was both intricate and expedient. It is a testament to the working relationships that exist within our county, and evidence of a unified commitment to public safety.”

A woman on a shopping trip told WRAL that emergency personnel rushed to the Knightdale store and told her she needed to leave.

"It's like, oh my goodness, what did I just drive into?" said Kris Minton. "It was a frightening experience."

Knightdale Fire Department and EMS also responded. There were no injuries.

"It seemed like every ambulance in the county was there," Minton said.

Police are trying to track down the man, who was not identified.

Additionally, Durham police are investigating a bomb threat was made at the Walmart at 1525 Glenn School Rd. in Durham. The threat was called in around 8:10 a.m. with the caller noting he was inside the men's bathroom at the store with a dozen pipe bombs set to go off.

Durham police said the caller used the same name and voice over internet protocol (commonly referred to as VOIP) phone number as the bomb threat caller to the Knightdale store. The number was routed over the internet to mask the location.

The store reopened after being closed for several hours.

No explosive devices were found. No injuries were reported.

Officers blocked off entrances to the store, which is located between Interstate 85 and E. Geer St.

Authorities started to take down crime scene tape at the Durham Walmart around 10:50 a.m. Ambulances and fire trucks left the store.

Zebulon Police Department was also dispatched to a Walmart on E. Gannnon Ave. The department reported there was no bomb threat, but rumors and gossip related to the other Walmart closures sparked the decision to evacuate.