KEENE, NH – The Keene Walmart was one of several across the state to be the victim of a hoax bomb threat.

According to a news release from the Keene Police Department, police received a call from Walmart on Winchester Street in Keene shortly after 9:00 Wednesday morning reporting that a male had called the store claiming he had placed a bomb within the building. Police said the unidentified caller’s demands were indicative of a financial scam.

Keene police had been notified of similar occurrences across New Hampshire and Vermont that had been investigated and determined to be non-credible threats, and with that Keene police had already begun conversations with the Keene Walmart when the call came in.

It was determined that the call was part of the hoax, but officers did perform a search and found nothing of concern.

Similar reports had been made at stores in Claremont, Amherst, Hinsdale, and Rindge, and in schools in Vermont, including the Brattleboro Union High School.

In a news release on Tuesday the Claremont Police Department said that at about 2:45 pm they received a call about a bomb inside of Walmart. A store associate called the police station, reporting that the suspect had called the retailer directly to make the threat.

Claremont police and fire personnel, along with Cornish police and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s office responded to the scene and evacuated the building. Following a thorough search there was no hazardous materials or devices located.

Wednesday morning, the Walmart in Hinsdale was closed due to a possible threat. No further details on that incident are currently available.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety issued a statement saying it has received multiple calls reporting bombs at Walmart stores throughout the state.

“Multiple state agencies are assisting local law enforcement agencies that are responding to those calls and with the investigation into those calls,” the department said. “The New Hampshire Information and Analysis Center is assisting by sharing information between local, state, and federal agencies.”

Vermont State Police say that multiple schools across the state have been receiving similar threats, but none of the threats are believed to be credible and appear to be part of the hoax.

Police in Brattleboro received a report of a potential threat at the Brattleboro Union High School and immediately responded and determined that the campus was safe and secure. Officers determined there is no known threat to the campus and the initial report was fabricated.

An investigation is underway into the source of the report.