New Delhi: Along with two hospitals, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport gets a bomb threat through email on Sunday. These threats came days after 150 schools in the national capital faced a similar scare.
” An email was received at Burari Hospital regarding a bomb threat. Local Police, bomb squad and dog squad were rushed to the spot. Teams are checking the hospital and nothing suspicious has been found yet” Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) MK Meena said. The second call came from Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital around 4.26 pm.
“Soon after the call, we immediately pressed two fire engines at both the locations. Our teams are still there as the search operation is going on,” a Delhi fire services official said. Police later told that 8-10 other hospitals including Hindu Rao hospitals got similar threat emails. As per the Delhi Fire Services Chief, the call regarding the bomb threat at the Indira Gandhi International Airport was received at around 6.15 pm.
“We received a call around 6.15 pm about a bomb threat at IGI Airport. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot,” Garg said. The incident closely follows similar threats in Delhi and Ahmedabad. A few days ago, identical emails claiming the presence of explosives on their property were sent to over 130 schools in the Delhi-NCR region. The threats sparked widespread fear, prompting quick evacuations and extensive searches of the educational facilities.
To determine the precise source of the emails, the Delhi Police used Interpol to get in contact with Mail.ru, a Russian mailing service provider. An FIR was filed against unidentified individuals, alleging that the bomb hoax emails were intended to spread panic and disrupt law and order in the national capital.
The hoax bomb threats also promoted the Union home ministry to call for detailed protocol and standard operation procedures (SOP) to deal with such situations. The home secretary requested earlier this week that Delhi Police and schools work closely together to prevent fear brought on by false information. The ministry also stressed on the necessity of improving school security, installing CCTV, and routinely checking emails.
“Home Secretary asked Delhi Police and schools to have close coordination for an effective response mechanism so that misinformation does not create any unnecessary panic,” a release said.
“The Home Secretary also emphasised the need to enhance security, CCTV cameras and regular monitoring of emails in the schools. The meeting was attended by the chief secretary and Delhi Police commissioner,” it added.
