UPDATE - St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theater Evacuated After Anonymous Bomb Threat - Press Officer

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th February, 2019) An anonymous bomb threat call triggered evacuation of the Mariinsky Theater in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Sunday, the press officer of the theater, Anna Kasatkina, told Sputnik.

"The administration of the Mariinsky Theater received an anonymous bomb threat message. Urgent security measures were taken. Spectators and employees have been evacuated," Kasatkina said.

The spokeswoman stressed that police had searched the theater, adding that evening performances would take place as scheduled.

"All searches at the Mariinsky Theater have been completed, the theater is operating normally.

The evening performances will take place as scheduled. Security measures will be increased," Kasatkina pointed out.

Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for Moscow emergency services told Sputnik that police searched two shopping centers in the Russian capital after they received similar bomb threat calls.

Last month, Russia was hit by a new wave of fake bomb threats at schools, medical centers, shopping malls and administrative offices, more than a year after hundreds of phone calls caused massive disruption and cost the country millions of Dollars.