The Dutch IKEA stores forced to close because explosives were found in two outlets had been targeted in a criminal extortion plot, according to reports.
The De Telegraafnewspaper reported today that criminals sent the first letters in September demanding millions of euros in cash and threatening to plant bombs in stores of the Swedish home-goods giant.
De Telegraafreported that the blackmailers already sent several "warnings" to IKEA in October to show they were serious.
In their latest letter, quoted by the paper, the criminals warn the Swedish company that they have show they have the power and the means to shut down the all ten stores. "This is a warning, next time will be the big one. We will not announce anything and people will get hurt. You will suffer the consequences," the letter said.
At first IKEA tried to solve the problem internally, without raising alarm, according to sources close to the investigation cited by De Telegraaf.
But a Dutch IKEA spokeswoman denied the chain had been blackmailed.
IKEA closed its 10 Dutch outlets yesterday in the middle of the busy holiday shopping season after police found explosives in two stores in Amsterdam and Sliedrecht near Rotterdam.
Two policemen were injured when one device they were trying to defuse blew up in a nearby police station.
IKEA issued a press release from its Sweden headquarters saying that its Dutch office had received a threatening letter before the explosives were found.
The authorities said this was not an attempt at a terrorist attack on The Netherlands. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said he believed criminal organisations were behind the bomb alerts received by IKEA.
AFP