Delhi Police writes to CBI seeking information on hoax bomb email sent to schools: Officials – Republic World

New Delhi: Officials said The Delhi Police on Thursday wrote to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking information through Interpol channels about a hoax bomb threat sent through an email to over 150 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Officials said the CBI, India’s designated National Central Bureau, also known as Interpol India, is responsible for all communications and coordination with Interpol.

They also said that the CBI is likely to forward the information sought by the Delhi Police to Interpol, which in turn will send it to all affiliated law enforcement agencies in the world.

Delhi Police is probing the IP address used to send the email, besides the sender and origin of the email, to decipher the conspiracy and motive behind the hoax threat that sparked panic on Wednesday in Delhi-NCR.

The email, purportedly sent from a mail.ru server, claimed that explosives had been planted on the school grounds, prompting mass evacuations and searches as panicked parents rushed to collect their children.

The threat that set off alarm bells in the security establishment was later labeled a hoax as nothing objectionable was found on the campuses.

The officials said initial investigation has led to suspicion of a “deeper conspiracy” hatched by a terror group during the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, adding that the threat email could have been sent by an ISIS module.

Delhi Police suspect the email was sent via the VPN and the dark web – an encrypted online content platform that allows individuals to hide their identity and location from others.

A case has been registered by the Special Cell of Delhi Police under relevant legal provisions for offenses of conspiracy and menacing and a special team has been formed to conduct the investigation, an official said.

(with PTI inputs)