Hoax Bomb Threats Plague Over 20 Delhi Schools for Fourth Consecutive Day

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Over 20 schools across Delhi have received alarming bomb threats via email, prompting widespread evacuations and a massive security response from police and fire departments for the fourth consecutive day. While all threats have so far been declared hoaxes, the persistent nature of these emails has caused significant panic among students, parents, and school staff, severely disrupting academic routines.

The latest wave of threats emerged on Friday morning, July 18, impacting institutions including Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar and Abhinav Public School in Rohini Sector 3. This follows a disturbing pattern observed since Monday, July 14, when three schools, Navy Children School in Chanakyapuri, CRPF Public School in Dwarka, and another CRPF school in Rohini, were targeted. Tuesday saw threats to St. Thomas School in Dwarka and St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University. By Wednesday, five more schools, including Vasant Valley School and Mother’s International School, also received similar alarming emails.

Upon receiving the threats, school administrations immediately activated emergency protocols, evacuating students and staff to safe zones. Delhi Police, along with bomb disposal squads, sniffer dog units, and fire tenders, were dispatched to each location to conduct thorough searches of the premises. In every instance, after extensive sweeps, nothing suspicious was found, confirming the threats were false alarms.

The Delhi Police have launched multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) and initiated a comprehensive cyber forensic investigation to trace the origin of these emails. Initial findings suggest that the senders are utilizing sophisticated anonymizing tools, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and encrypted email services, with some threats reportedly routed through German domain providers. This use of advanced cyber tactics has made it challenging for investigators to pinpoint the source, although police are pursuing all possible leads and not ruling out a coordinated hoax campaign or a series of copycat incidents.

While no actual explosives have been found, the repeated nature of these threats has created a climate of anxiety. Educational institutions are now reviewing and enhancing their security protocols and emergency communication systems and conducting internal training to better manage such crises. The Directorate of Education (DoE) had issued a detailed 115-point Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in May for handling bomb threats in schools, underscoring the ongoing vigilance required. As investigations continue, authorities are urging the public to remain calm and report any suspicious digital activity immediately, ensuring safety while striving to minimize disruption to the academic environment.