Around 100 schools in Delhi-NCR receive bomb threat emails; Central agencies launch probe

As many as 100 schools across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) early Wednesday received bomb threats by email, prompting authorities to evacuate the schools and central agencies to launch a probe. 

Officials said a similar threat was received by airports in the last two days and several hospitals on Monday.

An official said all the schools in Delhi and NCR received the same bomb threat emails which, prima facie, appear to have originated from Russia, an Indian Express report said.

“All the Central agencies have started coordinating and sharing information from Delhi Police as well as Noida police. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also looking at all the emails,” the official was quoted as saying.

Senior police officers said all the schools, including Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri, DPS in R K Puram, and Vasant Kunj in Southern district, received the email around 4 am with purported content that bombs have been placed inside these educational institutions and threatening to blow them up.

A senior police officer said, “It is suspected that the database of all the schools was compromised and the emails were sent. We have informed the Special Cell and IB officials and the origin email sender is being traced”.

Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri, Mother Mary School at Mayur Vihar in east Delhi and Delhi Public School at Dwarka were among the first schools to receive the threat early morning today.

DIG, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Noida, Shivhari Meena, said, “Information was received regarding the bomb threat at DPS Noida. Teams of Noida police, fire tenders and bomb squad are present at the spot. Students have been sent back home and the investigation is underway. We have not found anything yet.”

Bomb Squad and teams of Delhi Police and IB officials are at the schools and a probe is underway with cyber police stations roped in to trace the accused, an officer said.

“Amity Pushp Vihar and Saket also received bomb threats and have been evacuated on instructions from the police. The school has been closed for today till further instructions,” spokesperson, Amity Group, said.

Reacting to the incident, Delhi Minister Atishi said: “Some schools have received bomb threats today morning. Students have been evacuated and those premises are being searched by Delhi Police. So far nothing has been found in any of the schools.”

“We are in constant touch with the Police and the schools. Would request parents and citizens not to panic. School authorities will be in touch with parents wherever needed,” she added.