Too soon to classify Woolworths blasts terrorism, say police

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