New Delhi:
Around 100 schools in Delhi and the areas nearby sent students home early today. This was after the schools got emails threatening that there were bombs on their grounds. Police officers are searching the school buildings thoroughly, but have not found anything suspicious yet.
“We are taking all proper steps at the schools that got bomb threats. I request parents not to panic, as nothing suspicious has been found,” said Suman Nalwa, the Delhi Police spokesperson.
Another police officer said, “This is someone doing mischief. An email has been sent to all the schools on a large scale to spread panic.”
The Union Home Ministry has also said that the threats seem to be fake and there is no need to panic. “It appears to be hoax call. Delhi Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per the normal process,” the government said.
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena said the police have traced where the bomb threat emails came from and they appear to be hoax emails.
“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,” Mr Saxena said.
Some of the first schools to get the threat emails early today were Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri, Mother Mary School at Mayur Vihar and Delhi Public School at Dwarka. Since then, around 100 more schools have also received similar emails, claiming there are explosives on their grounds.
One school, Mother Mary, was conducting an exam when they got the threat. They had to stop the exam midway as the search operations started. The school declared an emergency and asked everyone to leave immediately.
In an email to parents, DPS said, “We have received an email threatening the safety and security of the students. As a precaution we are sending the students home immediately.”
The school buildings were evacuated after informing the local police. Videos showed parents rushing to the schools to pick up their children.
Bomb detection teams, bomb disposal squads and Delhi Fire Service officials have been sent to the schools.
Some schools that did not get a threat have also sent students home early as a precaution.
Delhi’s education minister Atishi confirmed the events, saying that so far nothing suspicious has been found yet in any of the schools.
“Some schools have received bomb threats this morning. Students have been evacuated and those premises are being searched by Delhi Police. So far nothing has been found in any schools. We are constantly in touch with the Police and schools. I would request parents and citizens not to panic. School authorities will contact parents if needed,” Atishi said.
In February, a similar threat at Delhi Police School had turned out to be fake.