Origin of bomb threat email to Delhi schools traced; Home Ministry calls it hoax
TNR Desk
The Union Home Ministry and the Delhi Police have asked people not to panic after around 100 schools in the Delhi-NCR received a bomb threat email in the wee hours of Wednesday (May 1, 2024), leading to panic and evacuation of these institutions. The Home Ministry and the Delhi Police maintained that the bomb threat appeared to be a hoax.
The schools that received the bomb threat include at least five in southwest Delhi, three in the east and 10 in South Delhi. The bomb threats were received by schools on their official email IDs around 4 am. An investigation is underway to find out the origin of the email, which prima facie appears to have been sent from Russia. Similar threats were received by airports and hospitals Monday over the past two days.
After receiving the information, the local police promptly evacuated the school premises. A thorough search operation is currently being conducted with the assistance of bomb detection teams, bomb disposal squads and officials from the DFS.
Among the schools that received the bomb threat are Mother Mary School in Mayur Vihar, Delhi Public School in Dwarka, Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri, Delhi Public School in Vasant Kunj, Amity School in Saket, and Delhi Public School in Noida’s Sector 30, all of which allegedly received threatening emails, as per officials. The Noida police confirmed the suspension of classes at DPS-Noida, and deployed additional personnel in the area.
The authorities suspect that a single individual may be behind the multiple threats, and efforts by security agencies, including the Delhi Police Special Cell, were underway to trace the origin of the emails.
In a statement after the bomb threat, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena urged calm, directing a comprehensive search of school grounds and pledging to hold those responsible accountable. He emphasised collaboration with parents and the administration to ensure the safety of students.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi echoed similar sentiments, assuring ongoing cooperation with the police and urging against panic. The Ministry of Home Affairs downplayed the threats, labeling these as hoax and assuring that necessary measures were being taken by the authorities.
