Walmart bombed after it stopped selling Confederate flags

'He's a strong supporter of keeping that flag flying'

A photo of the Walmart retail store in Oakland, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty)

A man was arrested on Sunday morning for allegedly throwing an explosive at a 24-hour Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Lee County Jail (Lee County Jail)

Tupelo Police said that Marshall E Leonard, 61, threw the bomb because the retail giant stopped selling merchandise containing the Confederate battle flag, CBS News reports.

Police Chief Bart Aguirre told reporters that the suspect drove up to the store at 1:30am and told an employee "you better run," before throwing the explosive at the building.

"He's a strong supporter of keeping that flag flying... This is his way of bringing attention to that," he said. Chief Aguirre added that the explosive did not cause much damage to the store and no one was hurt.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that Mr Leonard allegedly posted threats on the Daily Journal's Facebook page last Thursday.

“Journal corporate, you are on final warning. You are part of the problem," the alleged threat read. "As a result of this, y’all are going down, along with Walmart, WTVA, Reeds department store, and all the rest of the anti-American crooks. I’m not kidding. No messing around anymore!”

Mr Leonard is scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday.