On Saturday, several hotels in Kolkata, Tirupati, and Rajkot faced bomb threats sent through emails, prompting major security measures and evacuations.
Over 20 Hotels Across Three States Face Hoax Bomb Threats
Across Kolkata, Tirupati, and Rajkot, more than 20 hotels were on high alert after receiving bomb threats, which ultimately proved to be hoaxes. This wave of threats follows recent similar hoaxes directed at flights and airports, sparking fears that such incidents are spreading to other areas during the festive season.
Breaking:
10 prominent hotels in #Rajkot, including Imperial Palace, Grand Regency and Hotel Sayaji, have received bomb threats via email.
Police are on high alert, with bomb and dog squads actively inspecting locations. Crime branch team is also deployed. @CP_RajkotCity… pic.twitter.com/1SoMG20xqB
— Yuvraj Singh Mann (@yuvnique) October 26, 2024
In Kolkata, at least 10 well-known hotels, including high-end establishments, received threatening emails while Home Minister Amit Shah was in West Bengal. Bomb squads carried out exhaustive searches but found no explosives. According to a police official, the emails resembled those sent in similar school threats earlier in the year. Kolkata Police informed central security agencies, given the numerous threats directed at flights recently. The email sender, under the alias “Reality Is Fake,” warned, “I have planted bombs on the grounds of your hotel. The bombs are hidden in black bags. They will detonate soon. You have little time to live. Evacuate.”
In Tirupati, three hotels received similar threats on Saturday, totaling four incidents over the last two days. Although each turned out to be a hoax, the threats followed a consistent pattern. Emails referenced Jaffer Sadiq, an alleged drug kingpin arrested in July, as well as Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udayanidhi Stalin’s wife Kiruthiga and TN DGP Shankar Jiwal. A chilling message stated, “Afzal Guru will be re-born! Al-Badr!”—a nod to the 2001 Parliament attack convict executed in 2013—and claimed that Andhra CM N. Chandrababu Naidu’s car was linked to hotel “IEDs.”
In Rajkot, Gujarat, 10 hotels received similar emails around 12:45 PM on Saturday. Each email, signed by “Kan Din,” warned of upcoming explosions. Rajkot DCP Parthrajsinh Gohil confirmed that detailed searches were conducted, but no suspicious items were found.
