Bomb threats sent to Delhi HC, airport and other sites ahead of Independence Day
The email referencing Khalistan and alleging planned explosions in Delhi triggered security checks. Officials indicated the threat appeared to be a hoax
On Independence Day eve, the Delhi High Court, the international airport, along with several other places in the national capital, received a bomb threat on Friday (August 14).
According to an NDTV report, the threatening email titled "Blast Delhi High Court @2:11 PM" was sent mentioning Khalistan and describes plans to conduct explosions at several locations across New Delhi. The report further stated that the email claims to convert Delhi into Khalistan.
The email stated that a bomb blast will take place at the Delhi High Court on Saturday (August 14) at 2.11 pm. It further stated that explosions at district courts will follow the blast at the Delhi High Court after an hour.
It stated that the blasts would be in response to cases in the Delhi High Court. "Delhi courta vich sirf Sikhaan de khilaf case chalde (Delhi Courts only hear cases against Sikhs),” stated the email as quoted by NDTV.
Multiple locations targeted
The report further stated that the email claimed that members of Khalistan had reached Delhi.
Also Read: Bomb threat email to ISRO headquarters turns out to be hoax
Bomb threats have been at six other places in the national capital, including Jamnagar House, Jhandewalan building, Saket office, District Magistrate's Office, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) Terminal 3, and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Office in Delhi Cantonment. Apart from this, the Delhi Metro and Ambala-bound trains have also been issued threats.
‘Threat appears to be hoax’
However, later in the day, Joint Secretary of the Delhi High Court advocate Kunal said that the threat appears to be a hoax.
Also Read: FIR filed over hoax bomb threat on Bengaluru-Ahmedabad IndiGo flight
"The bomb threat appears to be fake... Everything is under control. Bomb squad and sniffer dogs are scanning the entire premises. There is no threat as of now...,” he said as quoted by ANI.
A bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs also reached the High Court premises, and security has been beefed up.
Searches underway
Police said that several government installations in the national capital received bomb threat emails during the day, prompting multiple agencies to launch searches and security checks a day ahead of Independence Day.
Also Read: Madras High Court gets anonymous bomb threat email, probe on
According to a PTI report, quoting police sources, the dog squad, bomb disposal squad, fire department and many other security agencies are conducting checking; nothing suspicious has been found so far.
Security agencies and local police teams launched searches at the locations following the threats. "Nothing suspicious has been found at any of the sites during the searches so far," reported PTI quoting sources, adding that further investigation is underway.