Delhi Police Investigate Hoax Bomb Threats Sent to Over 250 Schools

Delhi Police are investigating a series of hoax bomb threats sent to over 250 schools in Delhi-NCR from a Russian email domain. The threats were sent from the email ID 'sawariimmail.ru', which uses an Arabic word 'Sawariim' (clashing of the swords) that has been used by the Islamic State since 2014 to spread Islamist propaganda. The police suspect a deeper conspiracy and the use of a VPN to hide the identity of the sender.

The email address used, 'sawariimmail.ru', is based in Russia, but the user may have bounced the email off multiple IDs to conceal their IP address. The police will seek Interpol's assistance to obtain details about the email account registrant from the Russian company that provides the email service. Similar hoax threats were also sent to a private school in Delhi last year, with the perpetrator using a German-based email service and an Austrian-based VPN to mask their identity.

The perpetrators used a temporary email service called Tempail to create an anonymous email account and send the threats, which appear to have copied the style and language used in Islamic State propaganda. The threats claimed there were explosives in the schools, but no suspicious items were found after thorough checks. This is not the first time popular private schools in Delhi-NCR have received fake bomb threats, with similar incidents reported in the past 2-3 years.

Why this matters: The hoax bomb threats have raised concerns about the safety and security of students and staff in schools across Delhi-NCR. The incident highlights the need for robust cybersecurity measures and international cooperation to track down perpetrators who use sophisticated methods to hide their identities.

Security has been heightened across Delhi, including at metro stations, railway stations, bus stands, and markets, as a precautionary measure. The police have conducted thorough searches, and schools were evacuated and closed for the day. While all the bomb threats have been found to be hoaxes so far, the authorities are taking the matter seriously and investigating the possibility of a larger conspiracy behind these threats. Delhi Police Commissioner "assured that the culprits will be punished" and teams from Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad are conducting a joint investigation to identify the perpetrators.

Key Takeaways

• Delhi schools received hoax bomb threats from a Russian email domain.
• Perpetrators used a VPN and temporary email service to conceal identity.
• Threats copied Islamic State propaganda style, but no explosives found.
• Police suspect a deeper conspiracy and seek Interpol's assistance.
• Heightened security measures taken, joint investigation underway to identify culprits.