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Kmart in the Hobart suburb of New Town was evacuated on Saturday after staff were told there was a bomb in the store.
Police first responded to the Risdon Road retail store around 11.30am, where the decision to evacuate the building was made.
Entry to the building was restricted as police helped staff with crowd control, at the time providing no information more detailed than the building supervisor wanted it evacuated "for an undisclosed incident".
It has since emerged that the situation was the outcome of a phone call received by a Kmart staff member, in which they were told there was a bomb in the building.
"A search of the store was conducted and no suspicious packages were located and the store was re-opened to the public some 30 minutes after the call was received," Launceston's The Examiner was told.
At this point, police have categorised the incident as a hoax, however members of the criminal investigation branch will conduct further investigations into the threat.
The caller has been described as a male aged between 20 and 30.
"While there were no previous warnings, threats or calls relating to any suspect device in this area, police would like to hear from anyone who may be able to provide further assistance in being able to identify the caller," a statement from Tasmania Police said.
Members of the public are requested to contact Crime Stoppers on telephone 1800 333 000 if they have any information which may identify the person/s responsible for this disruption to the shopping complex.