New Delhi/Noida, Amid bomb scare on an unprecedented scale, over 130 schools in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday received a similar threatening email, claiming that explosives had been planted on their campuses, leading to massive Evacuation and searches began, as panicked parents rushed to collect them. His children found "nothing incriminating" during a search by authorities, who belatedly declared it a hoax.
Officials said preliminary investigations suspect a "deep conspiracy" by the terrorist group during the Lok Sabha elections, adding that the threat mail was sent by an ISIS module.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police's anti-terrorism unit has traced the email's domain to Russia and suspects that it was created with the help of Dark V - an encrypted online content that allows individuals to hide their identity and location from others. An official said the National Investigation Agency may also investigate as the role of the terrorist group is suspected and the "conspiracy" aspect may lead to a pan-India investigation.Law enforcement officials were left stunned when police and fire services started receiving large number of calls from schools at 6 am on Wednesday.
The educational institutions that received threats include Delhi Public School (Mathura Road), DPS (Saket), Sanskriti School, Amity School (Saket), DAV (Model Town), DPS (Dwarka) and St. Mary's School (Mayur Vihar). Email on Wednesday. A senior Noida Police officer said that seven schools in Satellite City have received email threats.
It had only been about an hour since parents had dropped off their children when they received a message from school officials informing them of an email that was threatening student safety.
Parents rushed to collect their children and the school administration hurried to get the students to safety and escorted them out of the buildings while police personnel with sniffer dogs cleared the premises.After more than 130 schools received bomb threats through emails, Delhi Police faced a tough task as it sent its dog and bomb squad from one school to another and had no time to waste. The city police became active and the situation continued till the evening.
Police said the number of schools receiving threats may increase as they prepare the list.
According to a police officer, the email ID from which the threat has been sent is '[email protected]'. The official said Sawarim is an Arabic word that has been used extensively by the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) in its propaganda videos over the past several years.The same email sent to all schools read, "Kill them wherever you find them and drive them out of the places from where you have driven them. There are many explosive devices in the school...."
The official said the email also contained "verses from the Holy Quran".
An official, on condition of anonymity, said, "The main agenda of sending such threatening emails in large numbers is to create panic and wage cyber warfare by some terrorist groups." An official said that the Special Cell and Investigation A case has been registered under relevant sections of the law for offenses like conspiracy and intimidation by a dedicated team constituted for the same.Security has been beefed up at all metro and railway stations, bus stands and markets in the national capital.
Monica Arora, a Noida resident whose son studies in Class 12 in DPS-Noida, said, "My son left for his extra classes at 6:30 am. Around 8 am, we received a threatening e-mail. "School authorities told parents whose children travel by private taxis, while those who come in school buses, are being sent back," the message read.
Rukesh Kumar, whose daughters study in two different schools in East Delhi, said teachers were pulled out of SAI students."Some students climbed trees, saying they would be saved if there was an explosion. Some tried to hide in safe places," Kumar said. Several schools said they were able to rapidly evacuate students and staff. , but dealing with the parents was a challenge.
Some schools also said they are planning to issue a circular to parents outlining the standard operating procedure to guide them on how to react in such an adverse situation.
“We constantly conduct evacuation drills to prepare students for situations like earthquakes or other natural disasters.So handling the students was not a problem as our children are trained how to react during such situations. I was the parent who was terrified and was finding it difficult to handle. ,” Sudha Acharya Principal, ITL Public School, said. Gurugram Police also remained alert and the police and bomb disposal team visited and searched various schools, including DPS schools in Sector 102 and 103.
Police said that no suspicious object was found anywhere.Many schools continued to send updates to parents through messages on WhatsApp groups. Meanwhile, the Delhi government issued an advisory to schools, asking them to ensure that e-mails received on their official e-mail addresses are timely. But investigation should be done.
"In view of the present situation in which bomb threats were received by some schools in Delhi in the early morning hours of 01.05.2024, it is advised that the School Administrators/Managers/Heads of Government/Government Aided Recognized Schools Directorate of Education, GNCT Delhi should ensure timely checking of emails/messages received on the official email ID of the school at any time of the day (before, during or after school hours) under 'Education. Advisory issued by the Directorate. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena said that Delhi Police has traced the source of the thread email.He assured that the culprits will be given strict punishment.
Officials said preliminary investigations suspect a "deep conspiracy" by the terrorist group during the Lok Sabha elections, adding that the threat mail was sent by an ISIS module.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police's anti-terrorism unit has traced the email's domain to Russia and suspects that it was created with the help of Dark V - an encrypted online content that allows individuals to hide their identity and location from others. An official said the National Investigation Agency may also investigate as the role of the terrorist group is suspected and the "conspiracy" aspect may lead to a pan-India investigation.Law enforcement officials were left stunned when police and fire services started receiving large number of calls from schools at 6 am on Wednesday.
The educational institutions that received threats include Delhi Public School (Mathura Road), DPS (Saket), Sanskriti School, Amity School (Saket), DAV (Model Town), DPS (Dwarka) and St. Mary's School (Mayur Vihar). Email on Wednesday. A senior Noida Police officer said that seven schools in Satellite City have received email threats.
It had only been about an hour since parents had dropped off their children when they received a message from school officials informing them of an email that was threatening student safety.
Parents rushed to collect their children and the school administration hurried to get the students to safety and escorted them out of the buildings while police personnel with sniffer dogs cleared the premises.After more than 130 schools received bomb threats through emails, Delhi Police faced a tough task as it sent its dog and bomb squad from one school to another and had no time to waste. The city police became active and the situation continued till the evening.
Police said the number of schools receiving threats may increase as they prepare the list.
According to a police officer, the email ID from which the threat has been sent is '[email protected]'. The official said Sawarim is an Arabic word that has been used extensively by the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) in its propaganda videos over the past several years.The same email sent to all schools read, "Kill them wherever you find them and drive them out of the places from where you have driven them. There are many explosive devices in the school...."
The official said the email also contained "verses from the Holy Quran".
An official, on condition of anonymity, said, "The main agenda of sending such threatening emails in large numbers is to create panic and wage cyber warfare by some terrorist groups." An official said that the Special Cell and Investigation A case has been registered under relevant sections of the law for offenses like conspiracy and intimidation by a dedicated team constituted for the same.Security has been beefed up at all metro and railway stations, bus stands and markets in the national capital.
Monica Arora, a Noida resident whose son studies in Class 12 in DPS-Noida, said, "My son left for his extra classes at 6:30 am. Around 8 am, we received a threatening e-mail. "School authorities told parents whose children travel by private taxis, while those who come in school buses, are being sent back," the message read.
Rukesh Kumar, whose daughters study in two different schools in East Delhi, said teachers were pulled out of SAI students."Some students climbed trees, saying they would be saved if there was an explosion. Some tried to hide in safe places," Kumar said. Several schools said they were able to rapidly evacuate students and staff. , but dealing with the parents was a challenge.
Some schools also said they are planning to issue a circular to parents outlining the standard operating procedure to guide them on how to react in such an adverse situation.
“We constantly conduct evacuation drills to prepare students for situations like earthquakes or other natural disasters.So handling the students was not a problem as our children are trained how to react during such situations. I was the parent who was terrified and was finding it difficult to handle. ,” Sudha Acharya Principal, ITL Public School, said. Gurugram Police also remained alert and the police and bomb disposal team visited and searched various schools, including DPS schools in Sector 102 and 103.
Police said that no suspicious object was found anywhere.Many schools continued to send updates to parents through messages on WhatsApp groups. Meanwhile, the Delhi government issued an advisory to schools, asking them to ensure that e-mails received on their official e-mail addresses are timely. But investigation should be done.
"In view of the present situation in which bomb threats were received by some schools in Delhi in the early morning hours of 01.05.2024, it is advised that the School Administrators/Managers/Heads of Government/Government Aided Recognized Schools Directorate of Education, GNCT Delhi should ensure timely checking of emails/messages received on the official email ID of the school at any time of the day (before, during or after school hours) under 'Education. Advisory issued by the Directorate. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena said that Delhi Police has traced the source of the thread email.He assured that the culprits will be given strict punishment.
