For the second time in a week, schools in Delhi were targeted with bomb threat emails, causing widespread panic and a multi-agency emergency response. On Friday morning, 16 schools in the national capital received threatening emails warning of potential blasts, disrupting the academic environment and alarming parents and authorities alike.
This incident follows a similar scare on December 9, when 44 schools received bomb threats that were later confirmed to be hoaxes. The repeated threats have raised concerns over student safety and the psychological impact on children.
Schools Targeted in Early Morning Hours
The emails, sent at 12:54 a.m., mentioned seemingly innocuous topics such as “parent-teachers’ meeting” and “sports day,” before warning of bomb blasts scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The targeted institutions included:
- Bhatnagar International School, Paschim Vihar (4:21 a.m.)
- Cambridge School, Shri Niwas Puri (6:23 a.m.)
- DPS Amar Colony, East of Kailash (6:35 a.m.)
- South Delhi Public School, Defence Colony (7:57 a.m.)
- Delhi Police Public School, Safdarjung (8:02 a.m.)
- Venkateshwar Global School, Rohini (8:30 a.m.)
A coordinated effort by the Delhi Fire Services, police, bomb detection squads, and dog squads ensured thorough searches of all affected premises.
Response from Authorities
Cambridge School principal Madhavi Goswami discovered the threatening email during her routine checks and immediately alerted the police. She assured parents that the situation was under control and announced online classes for the day as a precautionary measure.
Parents of affected schools were advised to either keep their children at home or collect them if they had already arrived at school.
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal expressed concern over the repeated threats, highlighting their potential impact on children’s mental health and education.
Investigations and Security Measures
Authorities have launched an investigation to trace the source of the emails, working in coordination with cybercrime units. While the earlier threats on December 9 were deemed hoaxes, officials are not taking any chances this time, given the repetitive nature of the threats.
Security measures have been heightened, with additional police deployment near schools and intensified monitoring of suspicious activities.
Impact on Students and Parents
The repeated bomb threats have disrupted regular school schedules, with many schools opting for online classes to ensure safety. Parents expressed both relief at the swift action taken by authorities and concern over the psychological toll these threats could have on their children.
