Police Investigate Bomb Threat on Wildwood Boardwalk Near Controversial Pizzeria
Police Investigating Bomb Threat on Wildwood Boardwalk Near Controversial Pizza Place
Friday, a bomb threat quickly turned a peaceful summer afternoon on the Wildwood Boardwalk into a tense one. There was a threat near a pizzeria that has been in the news for troubling pictures.
As of 3:24 p.m., the threat was sent to the Wildwood Police Department. It was meant for a store in the 3300 block of the beach. Police quickly arrived at the scene, locked down the area, and told businesses in the area to close. K-9 units that have been trained to find bombs were called in to look for any possible danger.
By late that same day, the beach was open again because there was no longer a safety risk. It didn’t hurt anyone or damage anything, but the police have made it clear that they are still looking into it. They have told anyone who knows anything to call the detective section at 609-522-0222.
Officials haven’t said which business was called, but Franconi’s Pizza is on the block in question. This place was recently in the news for a bad reason. People were outraged online earlier this week when photos were shared on social media that seemed to show stickers in the kitchen of the restaurant with symbols of extremist and white supremacist groups, such as SS bolts, a Confederate flag, and a Punisher head. A lot of people have said bad things about these pictures. Many have said the designs are insulting and shouldn’t be used by any business.
On Saturday, Franconi’s Pizza remained open despite online criticism. A staffer said the restaurant was open by phone but would not tell if they knew about the bomb threat.
Summer visitors and locals are watching. People are again discussing about safety and how police handle threats in crowded tourist areas. Since it’s still summer, officials are likely to keep security tight to make sure guests to the Jersey Shore feel safe while they’re there.
Sources:
Wildwood Police Department
Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office
