FBI Joins Probe Into Nantucket Bomb Threats Targeting Ralph Lauren Store

The FBI has joined Massachusetts state and local police on Nantucket to investigate a string of bomb threats that have unnerved some island residents in recent days. The most recent incident occurred on Saturday, August 16, 2025, following a Boston Pops performance on Jetties Beach.

Boston Pops Performance Ends With Third Scare

The Nantucket Current reported, “Shortly after the island’s largest summer event – the Boston Pops concert at Jetties Beach – concluded Saturday evening, Nantucket Police received a call from an individual claiming they intended to place an ‘improvised explosive device’ at the Ralph Lauren Store at 16 Main Street.”

The paper said it was the third bomb threat on the island in five days.

First Bomb Threat Reported August 5

A Nantucket Police press release posted to Facebook said the first incident occurred in early August: “On August 5, 2025, at 7:11 pm, the Nantucket Communications Center received a report of an improvised explosive device (IED) in a black sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the area of 16 Main Street.”

Second Threat Follows Days Later

Police say the second threat was phoned in days later: “On August 8, 2025, at 7:21 pm, the Nantucket Communications Center received a report from the Massachusetts State Police of an improvised explosive device (IED) in a box in the area of 16 Main Street. Additional information was received indicating the person reporting the IED was armed with a gun.”

Get our free mobile app

Extensive investigations of each of the three bomb threats netted no explosives and no suspects.

The Current reported a similar incident occurred in the same area in March of last year.

Why Is the Ralph Lauren Store Targeted?

Questions remain about who is calling in the bomb threats and why they seem to be targeted toward the Ralph Lauren store. “The three incidents over five days have been the talk of the town on Nantucket," according to the Current.