Third day of terror hoaxes in Delhi as 20 more schools get bomb threats

Delhi bomb threat

More than 20 schools in Delhi received bomb threat emails on Friday morning, marking the third consecutive day of such hoaxes in the capital, media reports said. Security forces sprang into action immediately, with Delhi Police, bomb disposal units, and fire department teams rushing to the affected schools.

As a precautionary measure, students and staff were swiftly evacuated while authorities conducted extensive searches of the premises. Among the schools targeted were St Xavier’s in Civil Lines, Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar, Abhinav Public School in Rohini, and The Sovereign School in Rohini, according to an official cited by HT. Details of other institutions were still being verified.

This follows similar scares earlier in the week. On Wednesday, at least seven schools were hit by threats, while on Tuesday, St Stephen’s College and St Thomas School in Dwarka were targeted. The email to St Stephen’s, received around 7.15 am, falsely claimed that four IEDs and two RDX packets were planted on campus, set to detonate by 2 pm, DCP (North) Raja Banthia was cited by HT.

Police confirmed all earlier threats were hoaxes. Investigators revealed on Wednesday that a 12-year-old boy from south Delhi had been traced in connection with one of the emails. HT quoted a senior officer as saying that the boy, a private school student, admitted to sending the threat as a prank. “He was questioned, counselled, and sent home. He’s undergoing treatment for a mental health condition,” the officer added.

The repeated threats have sparked political backlash. AAP leader and former Delhi CM Atishi criticised the BJP, stating: “More than 20 schools have received bomb threats today! Think of the trauma that children, parents, and teachers would be going through. BJP controls all 4-engines of governance in Delhi, and is yet not able to provide any safety or security to our children! Shocking!”