According to officials, nearly 100 schools in Delhi-NCR receive bomb threats. However, police said all the schools were checked, nothing was found and the threats were most likely hoax, adding that there was no need to panic.
Panic ensued in dozens of Delhi schools on Wednesday morning after they received bomb threats via email, prompting evacuations, searches by the cops and a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well. According to police, multiple schools across Delhi received threat mails "on the same pattern", that MHA later said were most likely "hoax".
According to officials, nearly 100 schools in Delhi-NCR receive bomb threats. However, police said all the schools were checked, nothing was found and the threats were most likely hoax, adding that there was no need to panic.
Delhi Public School in Dwarka, RK Puram, Noida and Vasant Kunj, Mother Mary's School in East Delhi Mayur Vihar, and Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri were among the nearly 100 schools that received bomb threats via email on Wednesday. A school in Lucknow also reportedly received a threat later in the day.
As panic ensued, parents rushed to pick their children from the schools that received threats and also from those that didn't as a precautionary measure.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a statement regards to threat mails to schools in Delhi and said "there is no need to panic," adding that it appears to be "hoax". Delhi Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per protocol, MHA said. Delhi Police also said bomb threat at schools seems to be a hoax and requested people not to panic.
The schools were evacuated, children were sent home and a thorough checking was conducted, Delhi Police said. Visuals showed parents gathering at the gates of the schools to pick their children as the threat mails triggered panic.
Director of Delhi Fire Services Atul Garg said they received around 60 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 I think all the calls will turn out to be hoax...,” he said.
Bomb detection team, bomb disposal squad and officials of Delhi Fire Service were rushed to the schools for the search operation.
"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," Delhi Police said in its first response to the bomb threats.
"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," Delhi Police added.
Delhi Public School Noida also received a threat mail. School principal's office said "Delhi Public School, Noida has received an email that threatens the safety and security of the students. As a precautionary measure, we are sending the students back home immediately."
Another Delhi school that received a threat circulated a message to parents urging them to pick their ward "ASAP".
"We have received a bomb threat and police has advised to disperse the students. So all walker and van parents are requested to come to school and pick their ward from school ASAP. Buses are being plied for routers," the school said in its message to parents.
Delhi minister Atishi also informed microblogging platform X that nothing was found on any of the schools in checking.
"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 said.
DCP East Apoorva Gupta also said nothing suspicious was found from either of the schools. "Several schools received threat emails today morning. As per the preliminary investigation, the content of the mails appear to be same, and the source may also be the same. Further probe is underway. No bomb has been recovered from any of the schools so far. Our bomb disposal teams are checking all the schools one-by-one," she said.