by Heather Graf
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - A bomb threat temporarily shut down the Tyson Chicken Plant in Shelbyville on Monday afternoon, in what is now the company's second security scare at that location in just two weeks.
"We got a call from the Tyson plant at about 1:27 p.m. Monday," said Shelbyville Police Chief Austin Swing. "They then organized a search team, and the search team went through the plant after it was evacuated."
A Tyson spokesman said the call came in from an unidentified person, saying there was a bomb on the premises. The 600 employees working at the time were immediately evacuated as a precaution.
"They just said you gotta leave the building right now, and you know, you do as you're told," one worker told News Channel Five.
Employees were allowed back to work about an hour later, after the facility was given the all-clear by police.
Locals said the threat is unsettling, especially since it comes on the heels of another security scare at the plant. It was just two weeks ago when Tyson contacted federal authorities over some graffiti found in one of the plant's bathrooms.
Police said there is no way to know whether the two incidents are connected.
Initial reports said the bathroom graffiti called for the death of all Americans. A company spokesman said that claim isn't true.
We've also learned that an off-duty, armed officer from the Shelbyville Police Department is now patrolling the plant, at Tyson's request. Chief Swing said the company did the right thing by evacuating the building.
"You can't let your guard down and say it's just another silly threat," he said. "Because you never know."
Email: hgraf@newschannel5.com
