Amidst the ongoing investigation into the bomb threat case involving a Delhi school, the Delhi Police has urged citizens to refrain from believing or spreading false messages or fake news circulating on WhatsApp.
The Delhi Police specifically addressed audio messages circulating on WhatsApp and other chat groups, spreading rumors about suspicious objects allegedly found in schools, stressing that these claims are entirely baseless.
“Some audio messages are being circulated on WhatsApp and other chat groups claiming that suspicious objects were discovered in some schools. These messages are false and completely devoid of truth. I urge everyone to please spread the word that these messages are false,” stated the Delhi Police.
Today, the Mother Mary’s School in Delhi’s Mayur Vihar reopened after receiving an email on Wednesday regarding a bomb threat. The school was evacuated, and a thorough inspection of the premises was conducted by the Delhi Police, resulting in the discovery of nothing suspicious.
According to the Delhi Police, a total of 131 schools in Delhi received threatening emails on Wednesday. One such school, Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri, received two threat emails, with sources indicating a minimal time gap between them. Despite two thorough searches of the school premises with the assistance of the bomb squad, no suspicious items were found.
The initial email originated from the @mail.ru domain, seemingly linked to a Russian website, while the second email came from a user with a @gmail address. Both emails are currently under investigation by the Delhi Police.
Sources within the Delhi Police disclosed that the threatening emails sent to schools in Delhi-NCR contained the word ‘Swaraiim,’ an Arabic term utilized by the Islamic State since 2014 for disseminating Islamist propaganda.
However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an official statement declaring the email to be a ‘hoax.’ The statement reassured the public, stating, “There is no need to panic. The mail appears to be a hoax. Delhi Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per protocol.”