Just a day after an explosive device detonated inside a Woolworths store in Pretoria, a second explosion has now rocked another branch in Bloemfontein, raising growing concerns about safety and security at the retailer’s outlets.
The latest incident occurred at Woolworths’ branch in Preller Square in the northern suburbs of the city at approximately 3am on Friday morning.
According to Free State police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, the matter has since been handed over to the elite Hawks unit for further investigation.
Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti confirmed that authorities were alerted after the store manager received a call from a security company reporting an explosion inside the premises.
“The store manager received a call from a security company informing him about an explosion inside the store,” Matoti said.
She added that the local explosives unit and other relevant authorities were deployed to the scene as investigations into the cause of the blast continue.
Kareli further explained that specialists were carefully processing the area to determine whether there may have been additional explosive devices or evidence linked to a possible secondary explosion.
“Our explosives unit is still busy at the scene, processing the entire area to determine whether there was a secondary explosion or another device that may have been stored or placed somewhere,” he said.
While the affected section of the Woolworths store remained sealed off, other areas of the shopping centre were reopened to the public as police continued their investigation.
The incident follows another explosion that took place at a Woolworths branch inside Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria earlier this week.
According to Tshwane police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk, the Pretoria explosion occurred at around 1am on Thursday while workers were busy stocking shelves inside the store.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in either incident.
“According to preliminary information, the store manager received a telephone call from personnel stationed at the store informing him of an explosion that occurred inside the premises,” Van Dyk explained.
Emergency services responded immediately and secured the scene after an alleged unknown explosive device detonated on one of the shelves.
“At the time of the incident, five packers were on duty inside the store, and fortunately, no injuries were reported,” he said.
Authorities confirmed that the damage in the Pretoria incident was mainly limited to shelving and food products inside the store.
The back-to-back explosions have sparked concern among shoppers and social media users, with many calling for increased security measures while investigations continue into whether the incidents may be connected.
