12-year-old behind Delhi hoax bomb threat, says ‘wanted the school to shut down’

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A 12-year-old boy has been identified as the sender of the bomb threat emails that caused panic at St Stephen’s College and St Thomas School in Delhi on Tuesday, The Times of India reported.

The boy, a Class 8 student at a different school in the city, allegedly sent the emails as he wanted the school to shut down. Therefore, he had sent the hoax bomb threats via email. The student said he mistakenly tagged the email IDs of a college (St Stephen's) and a school (St Thomas). He was taken into custody briefly, questioned, and then released after counselling, Times Now reported.

Tuesday’s email to St Stephen’s College claimed that four IEDs and two RDX explosives had been placed around the campus, including in the library, and would go off by 2 pm. DCP (Dwarka) Ankit Singh confirmed that once the threat was received, a full security protocol was followed. No explosives were found. The cyber unit later traced the origin of the email to the 12-year-old boy.

“During questioning, the boy admitted he had sent the email for fun. He was taken into custody but later released after counselling sessions. The public is requested not to panic. All necessary steps are being taken to ensure safety,” TOI quoted a senior officer as saying.

Bomb threats on Wednesday as well

Even as the police solved Tuesday’s case, fresh bomb threats were sent again on Wednesday, marking the third straight day that schools in the national capital were targeted. Emails threatening to plant bombs were sent to several schools, leading to evacuations and emergency searches. However, no explosive material was found on any of the campuses after detailed checks by the authorities.

According to the Delhi Fire Services, distress calls began early in the morning. St Thomas School in Dwarka received a threat at 5.26 am. This was followed by alerts at Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj (6.30 am), Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar (8.12 am), Mother's International School in Hauz Khas (8.14 am), Prudence School in Ashok Vihar (9.23 am), and Prudence School in Pitampura (10.25 am). Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate and another branch of St Thomas School in Paschim Vihar also received similar threats.

The email read: "Good Morning. Explosive devices are hidden inside backpacks and placed around the classrooms of the school. This is extremely serious. You will all pay for your sins. Roadkill and Benji are the persons responsible for this bloodbath. Release our names to the press/media."

According to the police, the emails were sent through a German domain using VPN (Virtual Private Network), which makes it difficult to track down the sender. A senior officer mentioned that the use of VPNs allows the sender to remain anonymous. Officials have already contacted the domain service provider in Germany for assistance in tracing the source.

Delhi Police, along with bomb disposal squads, cybercrime teams, and sniffer dog units, launched a security operation across the affected schools. Each school was assigned a fire tender, and ambulances were kept ready. The bomb squads, along with local police, swept the entire school premises, scanning classrooms, corridors, and other open areas for any suspicious objects.

Police officials said CCTV footage from the schools was also reviewed as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, school authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of their students and staff.

Reacting to the repeated hoax threats, AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal criticised the BJP-led central government. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “For the third day in a row, bomb threats have been issued to Delhi schools. Neither Union Home Minister Amit Shah nor BJP’s four-engine government seems to care about the safety of Delhi’s children. The BJP is hell-bent on turning Delhi into a jungle raj.”

Earlier on Monday, schools such as Navy Children School in Chanakyapuri, CRPF Public School in Dwarka Sector 16, and CRPF School in Rohini had received similar threats, causing further alarm and anxiety among students and parents.