Two Walgreens receive bomb threats in Ashland and Marlborough

Walgreens stores in both Ashland and Marlborough were evacuated Thursday after bomb threats were called into the pharmacies.

Several Walgreen stores in Maine also received bomb threats at about the same time, authorities said.

"There were several calls to Walgreens in Massachusetts and Maine," Ashland Police Chief Cara Rossi said Thursday.

The Ashland Walgreens, in the Shaw's Plaza on Pond Street (Route 126) received a call at about 3:20 p.m. from an unidentified person who claimed there was a bomb hidden in the beauty section of the store. Walgreens employees called 911 and evacuated.

"We did suggest evacuation to the bordering stores as well, and they complied," Rossi said.

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Shaw's did not close, she said.

Rossi said that "out of an abundance of caution," Ashland police called in the Massachusetts State Police and the Framingham Police Department to send in bomb detecting dogs to help search the store.

Nothing was found and the store reopened about 4:15 p.m.

"The unforeseen consequence is that several people who needed medication had their day disrupted and it could have affected people's health," Rossi said.

Marlborough caller 'said there was a bomb and demanded money'

The Walgreens store at 526 Boston Post Road East (Route 20) in Marlborough received an anonymous bomb threat at about the same time, according to police Lt. Robert Jusseaume.

"The caller said there was a bomb and demanded money," he said.

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The store was evacuated and the same officers and dogs that responded to Ashland then went to Marlborough, searched the store and cleared it. The store reopened about 5 p.m.

"It was very similar to what happened in Ashland and in Maine," Jusseaume said.

Milford and Natick police said Walgreens stores in their communities did not receive threats.

Jusseaume said the Marlborough incident is being investigated by local, state and federal authorities.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedloca.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Walgreens in Ashland, Marlborough, targeted with bomb threats