NEW DELHI:
More than 20 schools across the national capital received bomb threat emails on 18 July, prompting widespread anxiety and intensive security responses, Delhi Police confirmed.
The alarming mails claimed that explosives, identified as trinitrotoluene (TNT), had been hidden inside schools in black plastic bags and threatened, “I will erase every last one of you from this world. Not a single soul will survive.”
Fire services and bomb‑disposal squads were immediately dispatched to the targeted campuses, which included Sardar Patel Vidyalaya (Lodhi Estate), Vasant Valley School (Vasant Kunj), The Mother’s International School (Hauz Khas), Richmond Global School (Paschim Vihar), Abhinav Public School (Rohini Sector 3), St Thomas School (Dwarka), among others. School premises were evacuated and thoroughly searched, with no suspicious items found so far.
A senior police officer described the emails as “violent and disturbing”, which included explicit references to mass casualties, self‑harm and criticism of psychiatric medication, reinforcing the threats’ menacing tone.
This marks the fourth wave of bomb‑related hoax emails to schools in Delhi in just five days. On 15 July, St Thomas School and St Stephen’s College received threats, traced to a 12‑year‑old boy who has since been counselled and released to his family. The following day, three additional schools in Chanakyapuri, Dwarka and Rohini also reported threats, although none contained actual explosives.
Despite the lack of credible danger, parents and staff have expressed growing concern over repeated hoax threats. “Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the mails and determine whether they are linked,” stated a senior police official. Cyber units are analysing digital footprints and IP logs across agencies to locate the perpetrators.
Delhi Police have advised all educational institutions to maintain heightened vigilance and report any suspicious communications immediately. They also reassured the public that no active threat has been found and stressed that schools were declared safe after thorough checks.
While the motive behind the emails remains unclear, authorities are not ruling out a coordinated prank or mental health issue, given the disturbing content of the mails. Delhi’s Lieutenant‑Governor has requested a comprehensive report and urged schools and parents to cooperate fully with safety protocols.
As a precautionary measure, several schools declared holidays or switched to remote learning following evacuations, while others briefly delayed reopening until inspections were completed. Though no explosive devices were detected, the repeated threats have disrupted normal schedules and shaken confidence in school level security measures.
