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Carmike Cinemas in Lexington, Kentucky, were closed briefly due to a bomb threat Friday, but police gave the all-clear after a search turned up no explosives.
Law enforcement agencies across the country are responding to a bomb threat aimed at Columbus, Ga.-based Carmike Cinemas, which has 236 theaters in 35 states.
The threat was aimed at all the theaters showing "The Expendables 2," Carmike spokesman Terrell Mayton told NBC News.
The threat was left in a phone message at the Carmike Cinema's corporate office Friday morning by a person identfying himself as a theater vendor, Mayton said.
The theater chain swiftly coordinated with local law-enforcement agencies, he said. None of the theaters was open for the day yet and heightened security measures will remain in place as they show movies, Mayton said.
"We're getting lots of calls and emails of 'all-clear,'" he said.
The Wilmington, N.C., Police Department cleared the scene on Cinema Drive after investigating a bomb threat, NBC station WECT reported. Officers walked through the building with employees, looking for anything suspicious. They did not find anything and reopened a road shut down during the investigation.
“Really the only prudent thing is to do the search. …Nothing was found,” police spokeswoman Lucy Crockett told the Wilmington Star News.
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Bomb-sniffing dogs searched the Carmike theaters in Lexington, Ky., but no explosives were found, NBC station WLEX confirmed.
NBCChicago.com showed aerial video of law enforcement agencies setting up outside a theater in Morris, Ill., southwest of Chicago.
On Thursday, Columbus police arrested an armed man who tried to sneak into a Carmike Cinemas theater pre-screening of “Expendables 2.” Joshua L. Vardeman, 23, faces three misdemeanor charges, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
A federal investigator told NBC News the gunman and the bomb threat appear unrelated.
“Expendables 2,” which opened Friday, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger star in a sequel about bad-ass geezers with Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Bruce Willis. In this one, the crew reunites for what they think is an easy paycheck, but when one of the team is murdered on the job, the quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory.
This story includes reporting by NBC News' chief justice correspondent Pete Williams and senior writer Jim Gold.
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Leave a Comment:
Hopefully it's just another kook trying to cause panic.
Damn...WTF is wrong with people these days?!
Get rid of the democrats in the WH and everything should get better, because with democrats in office everything get worst.
Yes, just like when 9/11 occurred...hmmmmmm...now who was in the White House then???
This is from the same type of gun-nut turds who shoot themselves in the butt, in movie houses.
Burn, 'baggernuts. Burn!
Aha, so Timothy McVeigh was a Democrat.........
As opposed to all the "gun-nut turds" who DO NOT go around shooting people (or even themselves), I suppose.....
@JustBeingMe.... what the hell could some ignorant nut-case who calls in a bomb-threat or whatever it was... has to do with the White House? Are you saying that every American citizen has a right to threaten or kill innocent people because they don't agree with the current Administration? This is a Democratic Government, that Administration was elected by the people. So, any sensible American would know that they are there until they are either voted out or come to the end of their elected terms. You folks are so dam sick! You feel that threats, bashing, racism, name calling, mass murders is the way to get your message of hate across. This is the United States of America, and we will not be bullied by haters as you and the nuts perpetrating silly mess as this theater threat. If you don't like the current Administration, then do what our Constitution allows us to do..... vote for someone different. Personnally, I think the President is doing a great job. And if the Republicans were so bent on helping this country instead of being so wrapped-up in getting Obama out of office, then, we'd have progressed far much better by now. Obama in 2012!
I ca't believe there are still idiots out there that want another four years of Obummer!!
it used to boggle my mind too. But Odumbo and the likes got into our schools . So fight. They are. But there are still more of us than them...
When the media sensationalizes these types of events it only encourages the whack jobs that permeate society. Instead of the usual sensationalization of events like the one in Colorado and others, they should take a cue from professional sports that has a policy of not showing idiots running onto the playing field, for example.
The media should confine their reporting to the facts and not ratchet up the rhetoric like they usual do. Why do they do this? Ratings or promoting an agenda, as the most likely reasons.
People, Just being me can't even write a simple sentence. Pay no heed to a nutcase that's obviously lacking the intellect god gave to doorknobs. He's probably armed to the teeth because that's what nutcases do so let's tag him like they do migratory birds and keep him away from humanity.
wow and ive met some stupid doorknobs!!
Just being me..
Get rid of the democrats in the WH and everything should get better, because with democrats in office everything get worst.
......I hope it's just you being you, and there is no one else, in fact, one of you is too many. It's because of people like you that those with brains in this country realize what a pile of bullcrap the new, improved GOP/TP is.
lucc
it used to boggle my mind too
....Kind of like boggling a wet sponge.
Carrie-229037
I ca't believe there are still idiots out there that want another four years of Obummer!!
........Perhaps for many it's more a case of not wanting the alternative, kind of like the difference between spam and dog doo.
More then likely a theater emp. called in the threat to get a little time off, or someones bright idea on how to promote the movie. In any case the inept clown obama will try to use it to his advantage.
WTF? Once again politics is brought into it. You're as bad as the moron who made the call. Go hang out on some political forum.
@!$%#ing amazing.
Maybe a ploy from Netflix and Blockbuster to boost sales.
i was thinking red box...but people are loosing their ever loving minds....
I think this sort of reaction these days is funny - When I was in school we would have "bomb threats" all the time. We'ld get to go outside for an hour, then back in after a couple cops looked around. At one point it got so common I remember the teachers getting a note and asked us to look around our desks. Didn't find anything? OK, back to your work.
Yeah Rich, I remember those, too. But that's just what they were. We never had anything actually happen.
People tend to get a little more careful after other people have actually died in similar situations.
Sad that people are going to become paranoid if they let this stuff get to them.
Well, you know how it is: The paranoid KNOW how to survive.
Exactly. All it takes these days is a quick phone call and an entire area gets turned upside down.
Focus your anger on the real problem in America, the 1% and those they buy too pleasure them...
You people posting here, cannot be for real! I can not believe the B.S. that you folks are posting. Its just plain silly. Every dam one of you, seem to be either posting racist, hateful, self-righteous B.S. oH, How sinless thou are? We have a problem in this country and all some people can think of is... their selfish lives. I don't know how this turns into racist, political and other crazy propanganda-type S...H..i...t, but I know by reading this, that, this country has some serious issues with its people. Christian Nation? I don't think so! We are the most sinful and hateful nation on the planet. And most of the worst are here on these blogs.... typing their hate-filled comments.
800# DUH
Focus your anger on the 99% they only want what those that have so they can play games all day.
Without the 99% there is no 1% they would have to work! So who are really the lazy one.
If I am Lazy then I will just live life and pay no taxes so the 99% will starve
Without the 1% the 99% wouldn't have jobs.
Without the 99% -- the 1% would have no employees, therefor no businesses.
What you 99% don't seem to get is if you tax us 1 %ters we will raise our prices on you..
What you 1%ers don't want to understand is that us 99%ers can actually get along without at least 80% of your so-called "must have" garbage. How about you go do your own gardening now -- instead of having Juan or Pablo do it?
Hey Carl, without the 99% -- who's gonna fill your bath or cook your food?
lucc...oh really? Is that why RoMONEY NO MONEY chose only 2 count 'em 2 of his tax years records to make public? And why his why Fannie Annie claims showing more than 2 years would only "fuel the fires"....Now ahs believes twas yo President Swaggah Swaggah Boom Boom said not too many yars back..."If y'all got nuttin to hide...Y'all gots nuttin to worries bout."
This is just more proof of how little red states are spending on education. More nitwit Twerps who can't figure out how to get past the Secret Service, FBI or CIA to get to their real target...the President of the US...so now in their needle brains, they are taking pot shots at their fellow countrymen.
What you 1%ers don't understand is that the market set prices. An attempt to artificially inflate prices is price fixing, and illegal to boot.
Hey Bob I see you know nothing about business. It happens everyday..
Hey ewent your a idiot. Have you not heard the shooting in washington
"Hey ewent your a idiot."
Yeah, it's "you're". I see you know nothing about proper grammar. Anything else the 99% can help you with? You must have inherited your wealth, because you obviously don't have the brains to earn it on your own.
I missed the "a idiot" the first time around. It's "an idiot". I will use it in a sentence: "lucc, you're an idiot".
But a rich one bob. now come over here and mow my lawn..
@ lucc - If I mowed your lawn, I'd probably screw your wife while I'm at it.
without the 100% there would be peace on earth.
news flash, democratic senators and congressmen trying to pass a law against phones as if people did not have the phones they could not call in bomb threats...
that'll be tough to do, specially for those on welfare that get the free cell phone minutes per month - is 200, 400 minutes and they pay $0.00? I guess if it wasn't for the 1% free phones/free minutes could not happen.
jack from Jax is upset because he doesn't qualify for that free phone.......
awww...Don't be too hard on this KY Mama's boi...after all...Big Daddah spent years teaching this budding Lil Abner how to be a marksmen....you know...just in case he has to defend Daisy Mae's honor or someone dares to steal his hoss...
And you all thought the Republicans want to buy the White House and accept billionaire bribes for political influence...not nice of you guys...the Republicans are putting Mr. White Bred Money Boi out there to protect all of you from rednecks with nothing to do in this life but take pots shots at everyone..Guess they haven't figured out yet how to get past the Secret Service, FBI or CIA...to their real target...the President of the US...To them that's the ultimate hoot.
Romney and Ryan 2012
I sincerely hope that the police track down these people and prosecute them for the maximum possible crime.
In this case, I would surmise that would potentially include federal charges of terrorist threat, especially considering that the chain operates in several states.
They should also be held financially responsible for ALL costs associated with the response the police made to every theatre.
Who knows, if one or two of these idiots were prosecuted and held accountable, maybe others would think twice about idiotic pranks like this. What am I thinking... idiots that do these things are incapable of logical thought, or any thought or thinking ability what-so-ever.
Ummm.... Why any reimbursement for the cops having to do what they get paid to do anyway?
Oh, right -- cops don't actually get paid to INVESTIGATE CRIMES............
Well it's a stupidly conceived vanity action movie, but it can't be so bad the cinemas showing it should be blown up....
I am just curious. Does anyone know how many of these Expendible actors ever served in the U.S. military. Arnold no but got in trouble because of ducking out his duty in Austria, Stallone. no. Willis, I doubt, Jet Li and the rest I am not sure. I think Chuck Norris was in the Air Force (same time as I was).
Harry
Arnold did serve his one year in the Austrian Army. He got in trouble for going off base to compete in the Mr. Universe match in Germany. Spent a couple of days in the brig for it too.
I am just curious. Why the hell does it even @!$%#ing matter whether an actor who PLAYS an ex-military mercenary was actually ever in the military? JOHN WAYNE was never in the U.S. Army, but he played a lot of military roles during his ACTING career -- and I don't remember anyone ever thinking any less of him for it.
Harry McNicholas...and that has what to do with some nut job thinking he can murder innocent people? Is this how needle nosed the right has become? Judge everyone lest no one dare just thee?
hey sammy boy read what carl said
When they find this person they need to be put away just as if they did carry out what they said they would do. We need to change some laws in this country so that the law no longer protects the guilty, instead of the Innocent. We need to punish these people period, and that does not mean a slap on the hand. These people need to be put away for years, and I don't mean in a nice mental hospital. I don't care if they are mentally ill or not, put them in a Federal Jail for years and yeas.
at the very least , this'll be a nice hurt in Hollyweird revenue..
Kind of hurts the vendors more. The employees who are forced to stay home and go unpaid for this.The loss in revenue is a loss to their pay checks. This doesn't affect those in Hollywood that much. The films employees have already been paid.
The only ones in Hollywood it would hurt are the investors who put their own money into the project expecting to make a tidy profit.
Everyone else being hurt are the Mythical 99% who work the theatres and deliver snacks/supplies to them.
willber...And just who do you think is behind 90% of Hollywood's investments, movies, production companies, etc if not the Too Big To Think, Tooo Rich To Stink?
@ ewent...
Darlin, been hittin the shine jug lately? Y'all sure have a hatred of some of us southerners, now don't you?
The more you post, the more your ignorance, intolerance, and hatred sticks out. Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut and leave some doubt, than it is to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
You, madame, have definitely removed all doubt.
Well said
Some people have nuthin' better to do than aggravate, and bother others. Disgusting...!
So... how is this movie gonna get any Oscar considerations, now?
Another crazy whack-job trying for his 15 minutes of fame, but somehow this gets turned into a democrat vs. republican hate fest. People like you must live incredibly miserable lives if you insist on turning everything into this political diatribe. Innocent people are killed or maimed by these monsters and you care about politics? You are what is fundamentally wrong with this country.
Well said! Everything that happens in this beleaguered country of ours is NOT politically motivated!
steven segal called in the bomb threat.
Shame on the media for blowing this out of proportion .. The more you bring this stuff to the public's attention the more of this you're going to see.. Keep it up.. this is just the beginning.. sigh.....
Reporting facts = "blowing out of proportion"?
Got it.
Maybe it wasn't a bomb threat,maybe they was saying the movie was going to bomb?
Way too many idiots in our society! Who is producing these sick whackos? We need to start testing people and castrating many. These psychos need to be weeded out of our society.
The source of all these whackos? It goes back at least as far as the "American Revolution"...... Y'know, the willingness to use violence and destruction just to make a political protest -- and a Society that condones such things.
Face it, Americans are a VIOLENT people.
I disagree Agnon! Hollywood is violent and they are pushing it on our kids. Our government is violent because they want America to have everything! It isn't the people of America. It is Hollywood and our government. Don't kid yourself to think any of us have control over our government. We have no control over what is being spent, how it is spent, what war we will be in next, etc.
Don't blame Americans! We're like every other country. The people of America have had no controls for a very long time!
~bangs head against keyboard again~
GEEZERS???? GEEZERS?!?!?! Seriously? I can't be the only middle-aged person to take issue with the use of the term "geezers."
Geezers are what the Second Coming of the Neanderthal Twerpage calls anyone smart enough to recognize the stupidity and lack of logic in anyone under the age of 50.
A bomb thereat for “Expendables 2”?!? Are they sure it wasn’t just a movie review?
In light of what happened in Aurora, I say throw the books at the guy who called in the false bomb alarm and let him meet family members of those who were killed in Aurora.
I thought bombs were outlawed!!?? Just goes to show you... If bombs are outlawed, only outlaws will have bombs.
As a former police bomb squad supervisor (now retired) I can tell you that bomb squad personnel do not search. It is up to the intended target to do the searching and advise the bomb squad if anything suspicious is located. The primary reason is that bomb squad personnel are not familiar with items located at the scene. The intended target will request a guarantee that no explosives are located at the scene. If bomb squad personnel are foolish enough to give such a guarantee and a bomb does detonate, the city or county is open to an outrageous law suit, therefore, the bomb squad does not search or guarantee anything. The bomb squad can be called the the scene to render safe any explosive devise that may be located. Bomb squad units are usually small with few personnel and cannot be in more than a few locations. However If you see them running, try to keep up. Bomb sniffing dogs are practical but can only be used for a short time. The dogs become bored easily and are of limited value when they reach that point. The big deal about bomb squads is to satisfy the illiterate media.
Lawful1, as an American I say you are right, we are whats fundamentally wrong with this country. We don't take responsibility for ourselves as a nation. Its not certain Americans, its not the rich or the poor, its all of us, and our lack of respect for any that do not agree with our own personal beliefs.
The real frustration happening, in my opinion, is that Americans no longer have any control over what is happening in our country. We have no control over what our country is doing. Oh yes, we get to vote! Look at our choices! Obama has no idea what he is doing and Romney doesn't care about the American people. These are our choices? What has either one of them shown that will be good for our country? Nothing!
I agree that there is no respect shown any more. It is awful! But, the American people are so frustrated! Hollywood pushes violence at our kids constantly! There is no respect and no form of showing any respect from Hollywood. Our government starts wars on lies and stealing resources. Our young men and women are dying for lies and more resources!
You are right! It is not rich or poor! We keep paying for movies, etc., that are all about killing and no respect and no values. The "villains" are the cool guys. Great! The anti-hero generation! Look what is being produced. We are being led by the noses to destruction of our lives, our souls, and our hearts. I weep for America and our children.
It was probably just someone that was having to work at one of the theatre's during the release. They wanted to see it instead of sell tickets so they called in the threat. Then probably are going to see it at a different theatre.
And stupid, non-sensical comments like yours is part of America's problem. No concern, no compassion, no concern, just make a stupid comment. Yay, really gives me hope for America.
yeah jon...that's it...
Bush let the 9/11 attacks happen, nothing you can say about Obama is worse than what that Republican did. End of story.
Rumors are just that - rumors - gossip. Your comment therefore is unfounded, rude, and stupid.
Happened on his watch. Whether he let the attacks happen, or carried it out in secret, it happened on his watch. He's to blame as the head of the country in 2001.
CEOs are the ones to step down or get voted out if their company hits the fan or goes through scandal, same should be said for Bush.