Man arrested over string of bomb hoaxes at supermarkets including Asda and Sainsbury's

Six stores including Ikea, Asda and Sainsbury’s targeted in under a week

Shoppers were forced to evacuate stores in London and Surrey due to the bomb scares (Google Street View)

A 63-year-old man has been arrested after hoax bomb threats were made to six London shops and supermarkets in less than a week.

The scares resulted in hundreds of shoppers being evacuated from stores across south London and Surrey, including braches of Asda, Sainsbury’s and Ikea.

Police searched the shops as a precaution before giving the all-clear after each incident.

Asda supermarket in Wallington and an Ikea in Croydon were among the shops targeted.

A joint operation was launched by the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police following the six incidents between 16 and 22 February.

The suspect was detained by police in Surrey on Monday and taken into custody.

The Met said police were called to Asda in Wallington twice on 16 and 17 February.

On 21 February, officers attended a Waitrose in Banstead and Sainsbury’s in Epsom, both in Surrey, and a shop in Sutton High Street, south London.

The final threat was made to a Sainsbury’s in Valley Retail Park in Croydon on the afternoon of 22 February.

“Following the threats, the stores were evacuated, officers attended and searched as a precaution,” a spokesperson said.

“Every incident was stood down. The investigation continues.”