Bomb threat in Delhi: Several fire trucks and bomb disposal squads sent to hospitals and the airport.
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What happened?
Authorities dispatched many bomb disposal teams and fire tenders on Sunday after receiving bomb threats via email that targeted the national capital’s hospitals and Delhi airport. This incident follows just after a slew of similar threats in Delhi and Ahmedabad earlier in the week.
At around 6:20 p.m., a phone call was received, prompting the deployment of police and bomb disposal teams to Terminal 3 of the airport. According to the authorities, nothing strange has been discovered thus far.
Teams were also stationed at the city’s hospitals, including Sanjay Gandhi and Burari Hospitals, which on the afternoon of Sunday received emails containing bomb threats.
Around 3 p.m., Burari Hospital MD Dr. Ashish Goyal got the threat. “I have access to the hospital email on my phone. The email said a bomb has been placed in the hospital. I informed the police as soon as I saw it and it appears to be a hoax. Police is investigating the matter,” he said.
“A hospital in North Delhi’s Burari received an email with a bomb threat. Bomb disposal teams are at the spot. Nothing suspicious has been found,” DCP (North) Manoj Meena said.
Aftermath
Almost 150 schools got identical emails earlier this month alleging the presence of explosives on their premises. The threats led to widespread panic, resulting in immediate evacuations and thorough searches of the educational institutions; despite the fact that Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) teams and Delhi Police officials hurried to the scene. A detailed investigation revealed it to be a hoax.
To determine the precise source of the emails, the Delhi Police used Interpol to contact the Russian mailing service provider Mail.ru. An FBI report was filed against unidentified individuals, alleging that the bomb hoax emails were intended to spread panic and disrupt law and order in the nation’s capital.
The Union home ministry was also prompted by the false bomb threats to demand the creation of a comprehensive protocol and standard operating procedures (SOP) for handling such circumstances. The home secretary requested earlier this week that Delhi Police and schools work closely together to prevent needless fear brought on by false information.
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