At least four hospitals in Delhi received bomb threat emails this morning, prompting immediate search operations. The affected hospitals include GTB Hospital, Dada Dev Hospital, Hedgewar Hospital, and Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital. The Fire Department confirmed that search operations are currently in progress.
Delhi Police have launched a probe to identify the source of these threat emails. Police teams have been dispatched to the four hospitals across the national capital to ensure safety and investigate the potential threat.
This incident is part of a recent series of bomb hoaxes coinciding with heightened security measures due to the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Just days earlier, 20 hospitals, Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, and the Northern Railways’ Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) office in Delhi also received bomb threats via emails from a Europe-based mailing service company called ‘beeble.com’. The emails originated from the sender ID “courtgroup03@beeble.com“.
The content of the threatening emails indicated the presence of explosive devices within the buildings and demanded that they be disarmed within a specific timeframe. The emails warned that failure to comply would result in casualties for which the institutions would be held responsible. One of the emails read: “I have placed explosive devices inside your building. They will explode in the following hour. This isn’t a threat, you have a few hours to disarm the bomb or else the blood of innocent people inside the building will be on your hands. The group called ‘Court’ is behind this massacre.”
Delhi Police suspect that the emails were sent using VPNs (virtual private networks) or proxy servers to conceal the sender’s IP address. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police is expected to file an FIR and continue the investigation.
Earlier, on May 1, over 150 schools in Delhi-NCR received similar threat emails, which were later determined to be hoaxes. The origins of those emails were traced to Russia, with indications they may have been sent via the dark web.
In response to these ongoing threats, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla conducted a review meeting with senior officials, emphasizing the need to enhance security measures in schools, including the implementation of CCTV surveillance and regular monitoring of emails.
Regarding the recent bomb threats targeting hospitals, the first report was received from Burari Hospital at 3 pm on Sunday. Subsequently, additional complaints were received from several other hospitals across the city, initiating extensive police investigations. Despite thorough searches, no suspicious items were found.
The hospitals affected by the latest threats include prominent healthcare facilities such as GTB Hospital, Dada Dev Hospital, Hedgewar Hospital, and Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital. In response to the threats, police extended their searches to other hospitals that received similar emails, including Guru Nanak Dev Eye Hospital, Gramin Swasthya Prashikshan Sansthan in Najafgarh, and ILBS in Vasant Kunj. Additionally, the CPRO building at State Entry Road in Connaught Place was inspected, but no suspicious items were found. Enhanced security measures were also implemented at IGI Airport following the email threat received at 6 pm.
As investigations continue, the authorities are focusing on tracing the origins of these threats and ensuring the safety of public institutions. The series of hoaxes has highlighted the need for increased vigilance and advanced security protocols to mitigate such risks effectively.
