Bengaluru, 18 July

Nearly 50 schools in Bengaluru on Friday morning received bomb threat, which turned out to be a hoax, police said.

A single, identical email with the subject 'Bombs inside the school' was sent to nearly 50 email ids of various schools at 7.24 am from the user, roadkill333@atomicmail.io, they said.

The sender claimed to have placed several explosive devices within the classrooms of the respective schools, police said.

"Hello. I am writing to let you know that I have placed several explosive devices (Trinitrotoluene) within school classrooms. The explosives are skillfully hidden, in black plastic bags," it stated.

Authorities of a number of schools immediately alerted police, who reached the institutions concerned with the bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage check teams, they said.

The students and staff were immediately evacuated from the premises, police said, adding no suspicious objects were found.

"At least four schools in the Central division (Bengaluru police) limits received a bomb threat email this morning, triggering panic. All necessary measures were taken as per protocol. Nothing suspicious was found, and it turned out to be a hoax email," a senior police officer said.

Besides, Central division, schools located in other police divisions of the Bengaluru City Police are also said to have received bomb threat emails, which later turned out to be a hoax, but the exact number of schools has not been confirmed by the police yet.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking to reporters in Mysuru, said, "I got to know about it (bomb threats to schools), I have asked officials to check whether it is a hoax bomb threat."

Asked about such repeated incidents of threats, he said, "We are bringing a law against fake news, giving false information, instigation, among others."

Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the police will not take such threat messages lightly and are verifying them.

"There were instances of bomb threat calls and mails in Bengaluru and other parts of the state early too. They come now in the same way. We will verify which schools have received calls and emails. We will not take anything lightly, we will verify everything," he said.

Meanwhile, more than 20 schools in Delhi on Friday received bomb threats, triggering panic among the students and their parents.