# The Institute for Security Studies’ Willem Els says last week’s two bomb blasts at Woolworths stores in Gauteng and the Free State highlight broader concerns about organised crime and extortion in South Africa. The first explosion took place at Woolworths Menlyn Park in Pretoria on Thursday, and the second less than 24-hours later at the Preller Square branch in Bloemfontein. The Hawks are investigating the incidents. Els says it is too early to determine the motive and who was behind the attacks, but terrorism cannot yet be ruled out.
Expert links Woolworths blasts to extortion pattern, but terrorism not ruled out