Target is closing 24 stores in Minnesota ‘until further notice’ amid looting and protests following the death of George Floyd

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A looter made off with Target Merchandise, and a mannequin, Wednesday night.Star Tribune via Getty Images

Target is closing 24 stores in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area, amid protests against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed after a white police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest.

“We are heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and the pain it is causing our community,” the Minneapolis-based retailer said in a statement on Thursday.

“At this time, we have made the decision to close a number of our stores until further notice,” the statement continued. “Our focus will remain on our team members’ safety and helping our community heal.”

Target is closing 10 locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as 14 more in the surrounding region, including suburbs such as Eden Prairie, Shoreview, and Apple Valley.

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A view outside a Target store on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Star Tribune via Getty Images

On Wednesday evening, photos and videos showed people hauling goods like televisions, vacuum cleaners, and lamps out of a Target store in Minneapolis on Lake Street. People smashed the store’s windows and doors and destroyed displays and shelves.

St. Paul police told local news that 50 to 60 people attempted to steal items from a Midway Target on Thursday. Crowds gathered outside the Target, chanting “I can’t breathe,” according to Kare 11.

The 24 Targets’ that will be closed until further notice are: