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Planet Fitness bomb threat evacuates gym members in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — JSO is investigating after being called out to 6 bomb threats across Jacksonville.

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JSO didn’t say where the bomb threats took place, but Action News Jax has learned at least 3 targeted Planet Fitness locations were at Old St. Augustine Road, Beach Boulevard, and Normandy Boulevard.

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At least 17 Planet Fitness locations have reported hoax bomb threats in recent weeks, and even Elon Musk is weighing in on the controversy.

“We talked to some bystanders, and someone said there was a bomb threat,” gym-goer Noah Branch, who was at the Old. St. Augustine location during the threat, said.

Branch and his girlfriend were trying to go to the gym when they were stopped by police tape. Up to 30 gym members were evacuated.

ORIGINAL STORY: Heavy police presence at Planet Fitness on Old St. Augustine Road

This all comes after Planet Fitness revoked an Alaska woman’s membership for snapping photos of a transgender woman, who is biologically male, shaving in the women’s locker room,

Elon Musk commented on X before the bomb threats started saying, “Planet Fitness sounds like a creepy place.”

When Branch heard about this movement, he was disappointed people would voice their opinions in this way.

“I think it’s stupid. I think it’s unnecessary,” Branch said. “If you have opinions about it, you should not come out and threaten other people’s lives. The kids we talked to said their parents don’t want them to come to any place where people are threatening to bomb the place.”

However, Branch said this is not going to stop him from working out at Planet Fitness.

“No, this is not gonna stop me,” he said. “We’re still going to come here. It is a great place. We have been coming here for 3 to 4 years so far. It’s not going to hinder us. We’re probably still gonna be out here tomorrow and the next day.”

Action News Jax reached out to the company about today’s incidents and is waiting to hear back.

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