Bomb threats target schools, bank in Bengaluru; police declare it as hoax

Bengaluru: Two prominent schools and a bank in Bengaluru received bomb threats via email on Tuesday and Wednesday, which were subsequently declared hoaxes, police officials confirmed.

On Wednesday, the HSBC branch near Trinity Circle was alerted after receiving an email warning of explosives on its premises. The jurisdictional Halasuru police station was notified immediately.

“Bomb squads, canine units, and the local police conducted a thorough search and confirmed the threat was a hoax,” a police officer said. “We have learned that the email was sent to several branches of the bank across the country. There is no need to panic.”

A day earlier 

The previous day, Bishop Cotton Boys’ School and Bishop Cotton Girls’ School, located on Residency Road and St Mark’s Road, respectively, received similar threats via email.

The emails, traced to the sender [e-mail], carried the subject line: “HEDs placed in Bishop Cotton/Cluny school premises. Evacuate all before 11 AM! This is not like last time!”

The email contained a bizarre and politically charged narrative, alleging connections to a recent high-profile methamphetamine case involving DMK member Jaffer Sadiq.

It suggested the threats were meant to divert attention from supposed controversies linked to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s family.

After sweeping the school premises, the jurisdictional Cubbon Park police determined the emails to be hoaxes. “Two separate cases were registered on Tuesday,” officials added.

Authorities have launched an investigation to trace the sender and assess any motives behind the threats.