Sangertown Square Mall
/ Jim Kenyon
NEW HARTFORD -- New Hartford police say there has been a possible threat of an attack at Sangertown Square Mall.
The police were contacted by Sangertown authorities Wednesday regarding a comment on a blog discussing the Colorado theater shootings.
Police say the post read, "Next attack will be in NY at Sangertown Mall."
New Hartford police say they are working with Yahoo, the blog host, in an attempt to identify the person responsible.
Police say another message was posted on Twitter Thursday saying: "In case you don’t know already, DON’T GO TO SANGERTOWN MALL TODAY!"
Police don’t know if the threats are linked, but they say the threats are being taken seriously. Police say there is an increased police presence at the mall, and outside agencies including the FBI have been advised.
Alison Cahalan, marketing director at Sangertown Square Mall, pointed out to CNY Central’s Jim Kenyon that the mall has received no actual threat.
"We consider it a rumor, it is business as usual" at the mall, says Cahalan. There is a "strong police presence here," says Cahalan. "It’s being addressed."
Police Chief Michael Inserra says the police are treating these as serious threats and say they are actively investigating.
Meanwhile, police say they are bolstering uniformed police presence at Sangertown Square Mall.
While at the mall, CNY Central’s Jim Kenyon noticed that one store was closed.
Cahalan said that Victoria’s Secret had an "employee issue" which required the general manager to come to the mall from Albany. Cahalan says the store is scheduled to reopening at 3:30 p.m. She says no other stores have closed.
Cahalan would not say whether or not the closing was related.
Threats such as this are against the law in New York and are considered to be a terroristic threat, a class D Felony, according to New York State Penal Law.
