15 schools in Bengaluru received bomb threats; students evacuated

Bengaluru: Confusion prevailed on the premises of at least 15 schools in different parts of the city after they received bomb threats through anonymous emails on Friday.

The emails mentioned that bombs were planted in the schools, which caused panic among students, parents, and school authorities, resulting in the school management evacuating the premises as a precautionary measure.

Bengaluru police swung into action on a tip-off from the affected schools and immediately deployed search operation personnel to find out if the explosives were planted on school premises.

As of now, the emails look like hoaxes, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said, and appealed to parents not to panic. “Last year too, a mischief-monger sent similar emails to many schools in the city,” he said.

On investigating the threat emails, police found out that a minor from Tamil Nadu was the culprit who used the same application to send emails by creating a programme to mask the Internet Protocol (IP) address.

NEEV School was the first among many to post a message on social media.

The school said, “We are encountering an unexpected situation in schools on Friday. The school has received a security threat from unknown sources. As we hold the safety of our children at the utmost priority, we have decided to disperse the students immediately.”

“Kids are being sent home as per the advice of the bomb squad. We are evaluating the threat, but for safety, kids go home,” it added.

(UNI)