New Delhi witnessed fresh panic on Wednesday morning after more than 50 schools received bomb threats via e-mail, just two days after a similar episode had forced mass evacuations. Among the schools targeted this time were DAV Public School, Faith Academy, Doon Public School, and Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. The threatening e-mails were reportedly sent by a group identifying itself as “Terrorizers 111,” which demanded USD 25,000 while claiming that explosives had been planted in the buildings. Bomb squads and security personnel rushed to multiple campuses, including institutions in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, and Najafgarh, to carry out emergency checks and evacuations.
This alarming incident comes closely on the heels of a wave of threats earlier this week, when 32 schools across Delhi received similar hoax e-mails. Parents rushed to campuses such as DPS Dwarka, Modern Convent School, and ShreeRam World School, anxiously collecting their children while the Delhi Police conducted intensive searches. Authorities revealed that the sender had not only issued threats but also claimed to have hacked school IT systems. The e-mails warned of “pipe bombs and advanced explosive devices,” creating fear and confusion among parents, teachers, and students.
Police officials, while treating the latest threats seriously, have suggested that these e-mails might once again be hoaxes, similar to previous cases. In May last year, nearly 300 schools had received bomb threat mails that turned out to be fake. More recently, in July, eight schools and even St. Stephen’s College were targeted with a series of such hoax warnings over three consecutive days. Despite the apparent pattern of mischief, the repeated incidents have raised questions about cyber security, children’s safety, and the need for stricter mechanisms to track down and punish those spreading fear through digital means.
