Published: Apr 30, 2024, 23:37 IST | Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 23:37 IST
Delhi schools bomb threat
Delhi Bomb Threat Live Updates: Amid election season in India, multiple schools in the Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) reportedly received bomb threats on Wednesday (May 1) morning, police officials said.
Nearly 100 schools in Delhi-NCR received bomb threats early Wednesday (May 1), prompting schools to shut down and send students back home. Some of the schools identified are Mother Mary School at Mayur Vihar in east Delhi; Delhi Public School in Dwarka; Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri; Delhi Public School, Noida; Amity International School at Pushp Vihar; and Amity International School in Saket, among others.
#WATCH | Delhi Police, Bomb Disposal Squad and fire tenders present outside Delhi Public School, Dwarka which received an email regarding a bomb threat.
As per an ANI report citing the Noida-based Delhi Public School's principal's office, students were sent back home immediately as a precautionary measure.
Delhi-NCR DCP South West Rohit Meena has revealed that the same bomb threat email was sent to several schools around 4:15 am (IST).
"Checking is underway at all the schools and our technical wing is investigating the email. Through the initial investigation, it seems that this is a mass email...I want to request the students and parents to remain calm and not to panic. We are getting each and every school checked and are in contact with the school administration...," he added.
#WATCH | On bomb threat to several schools in Delhi-NCR, DCP South West Rohit Meena says, "We got information that the same email was sent to several schools at around 4:15 am. We took action and made the decision to close the schools and send the students back home. Checking is… pic.twitter.com/Plephu9URT
Following the bomb threats, the school premises were evacuated. WION was informed by parents of students at one school that they received messages informing them of the school's closure due to "unavoidable circumstances".
#WATCH | Visuals from Mother Mary's School, Mayur Vihar which received an email this morning regarding a bomb threat. The school is being evacuated and a thorough checking of the school premises is being done. Dog squad and Delhi Police have reached the spot. https://t.co/JymGzBQa4spic.twitter.com/hI6tygA9Lw
A thorough search and investigation of the school premises is underway. As per a PTI report quoting police officers, bomb detection teams, bomb disposal squads and officials of the Delhi Fire Service, have been rushed to the schools.
#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from Sanskriti School which received an email this morning regarding a bomb threat. Delhi Police personnel present at the school. Further details awaited.
In a statement to news agency ANI, Delhi Police said "Bomb threat at several schools in Delhi | During the initial investigation, it seems that since yesterday till now the mail has been sent to many places and it seems to be on the same pattern. Date line is not mentioned and BCC is mentioned in the mail, which means one mail has been sent to many places. At present, an investigation is being done."
As per reports, a similar threat was sent to Amity School in Lucknow in the Vrindavan area. The campus was searched, and the children were evacuated, however, nothing was found.
Back in February, a similar threat was reported at Delhi Police School in RK Puram, but was later proved to be a false alarm.
10:20 am: Other schools have decided to take precautionary steps for the safety of students.
As per a message shared with WION by one parent, Cambridge School in Noida has decided to send students home.
"Dear Parents, Cambridge School, Noida assures you that we have not received any bomb threat mail or a call. However, keeping in mind the safety and security of every one, we are arranging to send the students back home at the earliest. Bus users will soon be intimated. Parents who are interested to personally come and pick their ward may also do so," reads the message.
10:32 am: Summer Fields School in Greater Kailash asks parents to collect students "immediately".
"Urgent message: school is called off today and the buses will be returning shortly. Please arrange to be at the bus stops to collect the children shortly. Walker /Van user parents are requested to collect the students from the school immediately," said the school in a message to students, as seen by WION.
10:40 am: Delhi DCP says "nothing has been found, there is no need to panic."
#WATCH | Delhi: On bomb threat to several schools, DCP New Delhi, Devesh Kumar Mahla says, "We've checked all the schools and nothing has been found, there is no need to panic." pic.twitter.com/Kzf9ctXCT8
10:45 am:Delhi Minister of Education Atishi requests "parents and citizens not to panic" says "We are in constant touch with the Police and the schools".
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…
10:50 am: Delhi Fire Service (DFS) reports that it has already received more than 60 calls regarding bomb threats in schools.
11:00 am: Delhi LG VK Saxena takes to X, to assure citizens "The miscreants & culprits will not be spared."
He said, that he has spoken to the Police Commissioner and "sought a detailed report into the bomb threats at schools in Delhi-NCR," directing the Delhi Police to "carry out a thorough search in school premises, identify the culprits & ensure there are no lapses."
Spoke to the Police Commissioner and sought a detailed report into the bomb threats at schools in Delhi-NCR. Directed Delhi Police to carry out a thorough search in school premises, identify the culprits & ensure there are no lapses.
11:12 am: Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services, in a statement, said that he thinks "all the calls will turn out to be hoax..."
#WATCH | On bomb threat to several schools in Delhi-NCR, Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services says, We received calls about bomb threats in schools. We immediately sent fire tenders and fire tenders have started returning from some schools because nothing has been found and… pic.twitter.com/3ouqSD0xOL
11:21 am: Delhi Police in a post on X has assured citizens that the dozens of bomb threats reported across Delhi-NCR "seem to be hoax".
Some schools of Delhi received E-mails regarding bomb threats. Delhi Police has conducted thorough check of all such schools as per protocol. Nothing objectionable has been found. It appears that these calls seem to be hoax.
We request the public not to panic and maintain peace.
11:48 am: As per a PTI news agency report, at least 80 schools in Delhi-NCR received bomb threats via email on Wednesday morning, officials said.
12:00 pm: Ravinder Yadav, Special CP, Delhi Police Crime Branch saaid thorough investigation is underway. "Even if it is a hoax call, we cannot take chances. We will conduct an investigation," he said.
#WATCH | On bomb threat to several schools in Delhi-NCR, Ravinder Yadav, Special CP, Delhi Police Crime Branch, says "These emails were received in several schools. Some hospitals also received these emails yesterday. Thorough checking is going on. Bomb Disposal Squad, Dog Squad… pic.twitter.com/gnFbYOLxtQ
12:10 pm: Origin of threatening emails traced.
Speaking to the press, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena said the police have traced the origin of the hoax bomb emails sent to nearly 100 schools in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Saxena who had gone to DAV School in north Delhi's Model Town, said, "The Delhi Police have traced the origin of the emails. I am assuring citizens of Delhi that the police are alert, getting leads, and will take strict action." However, he did not disclose any further information.
12:20 pm: As per an NDTV report citing sources, the email was sent using a virtual private network (VPN) that routed and rerouted data via foreign servers. The police have managed to narrow down the internet protocol (IP) address after retracing the VPN traffic and have found the source of the email it added.
Reports suggest that the emails are suspected to have been sent from Russia and were aimed at creating panic. However, the authorities are yet to reveal the source of the email bomb threats.
However, searches have yielded nothing, and in a statement, Noida Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh said, "In the investigation till now, the case has been found to be fake, parents and school administration are requested to please not pay attention to the rumours."
