SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2024
Team Herald
In a concerning turn of events, over 15 schools in Bengaluru found themselves at the centre of panic on Friday as anonymous bomb threat emails were sent, causing distress among students, parents, and school authorities.
The initial wave of threats targeted seven schools, including prominent ones like Napel and Vidyashilpa in Basaveshwar Nagar. Notably, one of the threatened schools is located opposite the residence of Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar.
Expressing his concern, Shivakumar shared with reporters, "I was watching TV, and the school opposite my house also received a threat mail. I came here to check." He added a note of caution, stating, "Till now, it seems like a threat call. But we have to be very cautious about it."
Subsequently, several more educational institutions received similar threats via email, prompting the Bengaluru Police to take swift action. As a precautionary measure, students and staff were evacuated from the targeted schools. Despite initial indications that the bomb threats could be hoaxes, the police, along with Bomb Disposal Squads, are conducting thorough searches on the premises. As of now, there is no confirmation of any actual bombs present in any of the schools.
The Bengaluru Police Commissioner addressed the situation on social media, stating, "Certain schools in Bengaluru city have received emails today morning indicating 'bomb threat.' Anti-sabotage and bomb detection squads have been pressed into service to verify and ascertain. The calls seem to be a hoax. Even then, all efforts will be made to trace the culprits."
This incident follows a pattern from the previous year when numerous private schools in Bengaluru received similar email threats, all of which turned out to be false alarms. Authorities remain vigilant, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations while reassuring the public that every effort is being made to ensure the safety of the schools and their occupants.
