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Bomb threat calls targeting five area businesses had Maine area code

MONONGAHELA, Pa. — Police in Allegheny and Washington counties are investigating a series of bomb threats that were called in between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Three of the threats were targeted to hospitals; St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison and Monongahela Valley Hospital in Monongahela.

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The other two threats were made to the Benedum Theater in Pittsburgh and D's Six Pax and Dogz in Swissvale.

Police evacuated the area surrounding that restaurant.

"They said, 'You have to find the bomb. You're responsible for all of the people in the building,'" said Dave D'Incau, who works at D's Six Pax and Dogz.

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D'Incau said it felt like everything around him came to a stop.

"They sounded very calm, spoke very slowly," he said. "They just kept talking, 'There is a bomb in the building. You need to find it. You have this much time.'"

D'Incau said the phone rang again and the caller said the time was ticking.

So terrifying and before you know it's going on and you're just hoping it's not going to be too late," D'Incau said.

He said he doesn't know what this person is capable of and they need to be held responsible.

"Seemed like someone who wanted to put fear in people." D'Incau said.

Investigators with Allegheny County told Channel 11 they were notified of the four bomb threats within about 90 minutes. Police said the phone number was identified as having a State of Maine area code, however, investigators said that did not mean the calls came from that state. All of the businesses said they received multiple calls, with several reporting the calls seemed prerecorded while others said the caller seemed to interact with them.

K-9 officers went to several of the locations to check things out.

At 10:15 p.m. Mon Valley Hospital posted on Facebook saying:

"A confirmed bomb threat was made to Monongahela Valley Hospital. Patient care is not being affected and safety measures are in effect."

St. Clair Hospital also released a statement:

St. Clair Hospital received a non-specific bomb threat from an unknown caller at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday, August...

Posted by St. Clair Hospital on Thursday, August 8, 2019

Police are working with authorities in each community to coordinate the investigations.