Class 12 student detained over series of bomb threats to Delhi schools

Delhi Police has arrested a Class 12 student for allegedly sending bomb threats to over 23 schools in the capital in recent weeks, as he wanted to avoid his exams, sources revealed on Friday.

On Thursday, approximately 10 educational institutions received bomb threats, adding to a series of such incidents in the city. The south district police detained the minor student on Thursday evening in connection with these threats. Earlier in the day, officials had announced a press conference at the police headquarters to provide more information, but it was later called off.

According to sources, the student had targeted 23 different schools with bomb threats in an attempt to avoid taking his exams, using the threats to create panic. “The student drew inspiration from past incidents and devised a plan to alter his IP address using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and send threatening emails to various schools. Further investigations are ongoing,” a source said.

This comes days after the police disclosed that bomb threat emails sent to at least three schools in Delhi were traced back to their own students. After an initial investigation by the Delhi Police special cell, a police official stated that the threats had been sent by two siblings within the school who wanted the exams to be postponed. During counselling, the students admitted they had drawn inspiration from previous bomb threat incidents at schools.

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The siblings were eventually allowed to go after their parents were issued a warning. Officials also mentioned that two more schools in Rohini and Paschim Vihar had received similar threatening emails from their students.

The recent wave of bomb threats has been disrupting school hours. In December last year, schools received an email demanding $100,000 and warning that bombs would detonate “within 72 hours.” The series of threats began on December 9, when 44 schools received threatening emails, followed by similar incidents on December 13 affecting 30 schools, and on December 14 targeting eight institutions. In the December 14 case, the sender specifically referenced the use of “bomb vests.” Since May this year, more than 50 bomb threat emails have been sent, targeting not just schools but also hospitals, airports, and airline companies in Delhi.

(With inputs from PTI)