Fairfax County Police evacuated Springfield Mall on Tuesday afternoon after a bomb threat report brought officers to 6500 Springfield Mall at around 4:28 p.m. Store employees were told to leave, and police blocked traffic from entering the property.
The Fairfax County Police Department said, “Out of an abundance of caution, the mall has been evacuated as our [Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit] conducts a search” and added, “Please avoid the area.”
6500 Springfield Mall
The response reached all available units in the area, which moved to Springfield Town Center as specialized officers swept the premises for potential threats. The mall sits just east of I-95 and is anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney and Target, with Regal Cinemas, Dave & Busters, restaurants and the region’s only Lego Discovery Center on the property.
Around 5:15 p.m., video shared on social media by DMV Live showed people leaving calmly while FCPD vehicles moved through the parking lot. That scene contrasted with the earlier police response, which began with a reported threat and a shutdown of access into the mall.
Springfield Town Center
Whether the search uncovered any actual threat was not stated, and the immediate practical impact for shoppers and employees was the evacuation itself. Anyone heading to the mall Tuesday afternoon had to stay away until police finished their EOD search and reopened access.
