New Jersey shopping mall next to MetLife Stadium is evacuated due to a bomb threat just hours before Jets play the Dolphins in the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game

The shopping mall located next to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was evacuated due to a bomb threat just hours before the Jets play the Miami Dolphins in the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game.

At around 8:15am on Friday morning, New Jersey State Police issued a public safety alert that told visitors in the American Dream Mall, including employees, to evacuate. 

Then, in a post on X – formerly known as Twitter – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote that police were investigating a threat and shoppers should evacuate ‘out of an abundance of caution.’

However, around an hour later, he updated citizens and told them law enforcement said there was ‘no imminent threat’ and the mall was allowed to reopen. 

A statement from the New Jersey State Police read: ‘At approximately 7:13am an individual relayed information that there was a bomb inside of American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, Bergen County. 

MetLife Stadium is due to host the first-ever Black Friday game between the Jets and Dolphins

The American Dream Mall is a huge shopping and entertainment complex in East Rutherford

‘Out of an abundance of caution the mall was evacuated. The New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit and K-9 unit performed sweeps of the mall for explosive devices and none were found.

‘The mall has been deemed safe and American Dream will be returning to normal operations. 

‘This is still an active investigation and there is no additional information available.’ 

The American Dream Mall is a huge shopping and entertainment complex in East Rutherford. 

The mall boasts in excess of 100 stores, as well as indoor amusement parks and plenty of restaurants. 

It would have been extremely busy with shoppers on Friday, given the Black Friday sales that follow Thanksgiving.

MetLife Stadium will host the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game between the Jets and Dolphins

Making it even more hectic would be the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game that is taking place across the road at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets are due to kick off against the Dolphins at 3pm EST.

Miami sits atop the AFC East division after bouncing back from a 21-14 loss to Kansas City two weeks ago and beating Las Vegas 20-13 last Sunday. 

With Buffalo in second place at 6-5, the Dolphins have a chance to create some more separation between them and the rest of the AFC East.

The Jets, meanwhile, are starting Tim Boyle at quarterback in place of the benched Zach Wilson while looking to snap a three-game skid and spark an offense that has produced nine touchdowns in 10 games.

‘I´m excited to go out there and put my flavor on things and just be myself,’ said Boyle, making his fourth NFL start. ‘Not overdo it, run the offense and put the ball in our playmakers’ hands.’