More than 20,000 people were evacuated from the stores of the Auchan supermarket chain in Moscow, after several bomb threats were received.
Russian media reported late on February 18 that five of the retail chain's stores were targeted by bomb threats and were being evacuated.
No explosives were found.
The evacuation was soon expanded to all 12 Auchan stores in Moscow and its outskirts, as well as to the GUM department store near the Kremlin and the downtown TsUM department store.
The RIA-Novosti and TASS news agencies reported on February 19 that about 22,000 people were affected, citing an unidentified official from Moscow's emergency services.