Bomb calls force thousands to evacuate Moscow buildings

By Emre Gurkan Abay

MOSCOW (AA) – At least 3,500 people have been evacuated from the Russian capital's central buildings on Sunday amid a wave of bomb threat calls, local media reported.

According to Russian news agencies citing police sources, thousands of people had to evacuate the Bolshoi Theatre, Metropol Moscow Hotel, GUM department store in central Moscow following anonymous calls about bombs.

Such warnings have also been made for over 20 buildings including universities, train stations, shopping malls, hotels and many other places.

Nearly 1.4 million Russians have been evacuated across the country since Sept. 11 after similar bomb calls, which have so far turned out to be all hoax.