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NEW DELHI: Three prominent schools in Delhi were thrown into alarm on September 15, after bomb threat emails triggered emergency evacuations and extensive security checks, forcing authorities to mobilise police, fire services and security personnel. The threats were subsequently declared hoaxes after thorough searches found no explosives or suspicious objects, officials said.
The schools that received the threats included British School in Chanakyapuri, Army Public School in Dhaula Kuan and Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodi Estate.
The alarm was raised after the schools received emails warning of a bomb threat. At Army Public School in Dhaula Kuan, the Delhi Fire Service received an emergency call at around 11.30 am, following which a fire tender was rushed to the premises.
Police and other emergency personnel were alerted as students were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Security teams subsequently carried out detailed searches of school buildings and surrounding areas.
At Army Public School, the threat was declared a hoax at around 1.05 pm, after security personnel completed their checks. A similar threat received by the British School in Chanakyapuri was also declared a hoax following security inspections.
The incident caused disruption at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya as well, where the school confirmed that students had been safely evacuated after receiving a security threat. In a notice, the school said police had been informed and were taking necessary steps. The school was also required to assess the situation before deciding on the conduct of remaining examinations.
The middle school students had already completed their examinations, while senior school students had finished most of their exams. Any decision regarding the remaining examinations would be taken after assessing the security situation, the school said.
Despite the seriousness of the emails, extensive searches by security personnel did not uncover any explosive device or suspicious material at the affected schools. Authorities nevertheless treated the threats seriously, underlining the security protocols followed when educational institutions receive bomb threats.
Police are now examining the emails and their contents as part of an effort to identify the person or persons responsible for sending the threats. Investigators are looking into the source of the messages and the circumstances surrounding their circulation. Further investigation is underway.
