Hoax Bomb Threat: 16-Year-Old Boy Behind Emails To Delhi Schools? Police React To Claims

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday dismissed the bomb threat as a ‘hoax’ and advised the public not to panic after at least 100 schools in Delhi-NCR received an identical threat by email, triggering mass evacuations and massive searches as panic-stricken parents rushed to pick up their children.

An old social media post by a 16-year-old student from a prestigious Delhi school, joking about ‘sending emails just for fun’, has resurfaced. Meanwhile, Delhi police are requesting people not to spread rumours. A senior police officer rubbished the viral claim and claimed that an old post on ‘X’ was being made viral.

The police have reportedly identified the sender of the bomb threat letter as a 16-year-old student of a top Delhi school. “The police have confirmed that it was a hoax email sent by the student who admitted to planning the prank ‘just for fun’,” the false news read. Some Delhi schools received emails regarding bomb threats on Wednesday. Delhi Police has conducted thorough check of all such schools as per protocol, Delhi Police said in a post on X.

“Nothing objectionable has been found. It appears that these calls seem to be hoax. We request the public not to panic and maintain peace,” it said. According to Delhi police officials, the email is suspected to have been sent from one source to schools in Delhi and adjoining Noida and Greater Noida. Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per protocol, the Centre said.

“There is no need to panic. Mails appear to be hoax. Delhi Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per protocol,” a Union home ministry official said. Delhi Education Minister Atishi also requested parents not to panic and wrote on X, “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 of the schools. We are in constant touch with the police and the schools. Would request parents and citizens not to panic. School authorities will be in touch with parents wherever needed, Atishi said.

Several schools called and sent messages to parents to urgently pick their wards from the school. In Noida too, bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs were rushed to the schools which received the threat. Overall security was beefed up in the twin cities as a precautionary measure. The threat was sent to branches of Delhi Public School (DPS) in Noida and Greater Noida, and some other schools via emails by an anonymous sender, Noida police officials said. Other schools that did not receive bomb threats were also flooded with queries by parents and guardians who were worried about their wards’ safety.

Delhi government advisory

The Delhi government issued an advisory for schools, asking them to ensure that the e-mails received at their official e-mail addresses are checked timely, after at least 100 schools in the capital and neighbouring Noida received a hoax bomb threat.  The threat was declared a hoax as “nothing objectionable” was found during searches, police said.

“In view of the current situation wherein bomb threats were received by a few schools of Delhi in early hours of morning of 01.05.2024, it is advised that School Administrators/Managers/Heads of Government/Government Aided and Unaided Recognised Schools under the Directorate of Education, GNCT Delhi should ensure that emails/messages received on official email id of the school at any time of the day (before, during or after school hours) are checked timely,” read the advisory issued by the Directorate of Education.

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