​Over 40 schools in Delhi receive bomb threats, students evacuated

At least 40 schools received a bomb threat by email in Delhi on Monday demanding $30,000, according to ANI news agency, while police officials conducted initial searches on school premises.

The threats were sent via email. It stated:

"I have planted multiple bombs inside the (school) buildings. The bombs are small and well-hidden. While they may not cause significant damage to the buildings, many people will be injured when they detonate. If I do not receive $30,000, I will set off the bombs."

The message was received on December 8 at approximately 11:38 pm.

Two schools received the threatening email on Sunday night, which claimed multiple bombs were planted inside buildings and would be detonated if the sender was not paid $30,000, according to ANI.

Many other schools received the emails on Monday morning, prompting school authorities to call parents to take the students home for the day. Parents were seen picking their children up from the gates of some schools as police checked school premises for suspicious items.

Delhi Police, working alongside bomb disposal teams and emergency services, swiftly initiated investigations and search operations. Schools were evacuated without delay, and students, staff, and parents were reassured that their safety was the top priority.

So far, no explosives have been found, but the investigation is still underway. In the meantime, authorities have heightened security around all educational institutions throughout the city.

Political blame game

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi criticized the central government, accusing the BJP-led administration of failing in its primary responsibility of ensuring security.

"After daily incidents of ransom, murders, and shootings in Delhi, now we’re facing bomb threats to schools. The law and order situation in Delhi has never been worse. The BJP-led central government has failed in its one job—ensuring the safety of Delhi's citizens," Atishi wrote on X.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that the people of Delhi have never witnessed such a breakdown in law and order.

"The people of Delhi have never experienced such a deteriorated law and order situation before. Amit Shah should come and answer to the people of Delhi," Kejriwal said.

In May, more than 50 schools in Delhi and the adjoining suburb of Noida received similar bomb threat emails that turned out to be hoaxes.

This year, schools, railway stations, and airports have been subject to hundreds of bomb threats, which have later turned out to be hoaxes.

Airlines and airports in India received nearly 1,000 hoax bomb threats from the start of the year until mid-November, and 12 people were arrested during the same period, government data shows.