A bomb threat received via email at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) office in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon prompted a swift response from security personnel, who later confirmed it to be a hoax after extensive checks, according to police sources.
The threat, received around 3:30 pm, prompted the deployment of personnel from Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services (DFS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and bomb squad teams to the office located near the Parliament in the North Block. A case has been registered in connection with the incident, police officials stated.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior police officer revealed that the email, received in the morning, claimed the presence of a bomb inside the MHA building. The CISF, responsible for the building’s security, coordinated with the bomb squad to conduct thorough searches. However, the threat was ultimately determined to be a hoax. Discussions are ongoing with senior officials regarding the legal course of action, the officer added.
A DFS official mentioned being summoned to the North Block with two fire tenders but was subsequently sent back after a few hours.
This incident adds to a series of hoax bomb threats sent to numerous institutions across Delhi-NCR over the past month. These include over 25 hospitals, 200 schools, the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and Tihar jail.
Despite lodging multiple cases, Delhi police have yet to make significant progress in the investigation. On May 1, more than 200 schools in Delhi were evacuated and closed following bomb threats received via email. Similar threats targeted several Delhi hospitals, schools, IGI Airport, and Tihar jail over the subsequent weeks.
Police sources revealed that the email received by the MHA official was from an unknown sender, utilizing a virtual private network (VPN) to obscure its origin. “Nothing suspicious was found. All offices were thoroughly checked. It was a prank,” stated another officer involved in the investigation.
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