Staff Reporter
Police say it is too soon to classify two explosions at Woolworths stores in Gauteng and the Free State as acts of terrorism.
In a statement released late on Friday, SAPS said Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane had deployed a National Forensic Task Team and Crime Intelligence experts to investigate the explosions.
“Investigations are currently at a very early stage and all possible motives are being explored by investigators,” SAPS said.
“At this stage, it would be premature to classify the incidents as acts of terrorism.”
The statement followed two explosions at Woolworths stores within about 24 hours, one at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria and another at Preller Square Shopping Centre in Bloemfontein.
The first explosion happened inside the Woolworths store at Menlyn Park in the early hours of Thursday, 28 May. Police confirmed at the time that an unknown explosive device detonated on one of the store shelves. No injuries were reported, though shelves and food items were damaged.
A second explosion was reported at the Woolworths store at Preller Square in Bloemfontein early on Friday, 29 May. Preller Square management said emergency services and SAPS responded to the scene and that there were no injuries or major damage.
Woolworths said in a statement that the Menlyn Park store had reopened, while Preller Square remained closed while the investigation continued.
The company has also increased security and vigilance across its stores nationwide and said it was cooperating with authorities. It said no further information was available at this stage on the nature of the devices or the motive behind the attacks.
SAPS said it remained alert and would continue to assess the situation as investigations unfolded.
“Any additional security measures, including monitoring around affected or related premises, will be informed by ongoing investigations and threat assessments,” police said.
The police urged the public to remain calm and allow investigators space to conduct their work.
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