Over 40 schools in Bengaluru and about 45 in Delhi were the targets of a concerted scare campaign that included anonymous emails warning of bombs planted on their property.
After more than 80 schools in Delhi and Bengaluru received bomb threat emails on Friday morning, hundreds of parents, kids, and educators were outraged. This led to widespread evacuations and extensive search and rescue efforts by police officials.
Over 40 schools in Bengaluru and about 45 in Delhi were the targets of a concerted scare campaign that included anonymous emails warning of bombs planted on their property. The terrifying language in the early-morning messages, which were delivered to school officials, threatened widespread casualties and devastation.
In Delhi, prominent institutions including Richmond Global School (Paschim Vihar), The Sovereign School (Rohini), Abhinav Public School (Pitampura), and St. Xavier’s Senior Secondary School (Civil Lines) were among those targeted. Students were swiftly evacuated as police, bomb disposal squads, and dog units scanned school campuses for suspicious objects.
Similarly, Bengaluru reported a similar pattern. Schools in areas like Rajarajeshwari Nagar, RR Nagar, Kengeri, and even elite institutions such as Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Bishop Cotton Girls’ School, The International School Bangalore (TISB), and MS Dhoni Global School received identical threats.
Confirming the incident, a senior Delhi Police officer said, we received multiple alerts from schools across the city regarding threat emails. All necessary protocols were followed. The bomb disposal squads conducted thorough checks, and no suspicious items were found.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda shared similar sentiments, assuring that comprehensive search operations were launched and that the matter is under active investigation by cybercrime units.
This is not the first such scare. In the past week alone, Delhi schools have faced bomb hoax threats on multiple occasions. On Monday, three institutions received threatening emails. The following days saw a similar pattern, with some schools receiving threats for the second or third time this week alone.
Earlier in the month, a hoax was traced back to a 12-year-old student in Delhi who admitted to sending a threatening email as a prank. However, officials believe the current series of threats appear to be more coordinated and possibly sourced through encrypted platforms and VPNs, making the origin harder to trace.
A senior official from Delhi Police’s Cyber Cell stated, “The emails appear to have been sent using secure overseas servers. Investigations are underway, and we are coordinating with national agencies like the IB and NTRO. International cooperation may also be sought if required.”
Law enforcement sources and mental health experts have raised concerns over the nature of the language used in the threat emails. The messages, beyond bomb threats, contained disturbing references to death, violence, and even self-harm, hinting at possible mental health issues of the sender.
One of the emails reportedly read, “I will erase every last one of you from this world… not a single soul will survive.
Schools, Parents Left Shaken
The repeated nature of the threats has left parents and school authorities anxious. Many schools suspended classes for the day, while some shifted to online mode temporarily.
“We evacuated the children as soon as we received the email. The safety of our students is paramount,” said the principal of a prominent South Delhi school, requesting anonymity.
Parents, too, expressed deep concern over the emotional impact on students. “It’s terrifying. We sent our children to school trusting they’d be safe. This has shaken our confidence,” said Richa Verma, whose child studies at a school in West Delhi.
The Delhi government has given its commitment to student safety, directing schools to strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for emergencies, including regular mock drills, CCTV surveillance, and mandatory FIRs against hoax perpetrators.
Karnataka’s education authorities have also issued advisories, emphasizing the need for vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
