Bomb Threats Prompt Evacuations at Schools in Ahmedabad
Bomb Threats Received by Schools
Today, three schools in Ahmedabad received bomb threats via email. According to Sharad Singhal, the Joint Police Commissioner of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, police teams are currently on-site at the affected schools.
The alarming emails sent to several schools in Ahmedabad on Wednesday morning caused panic, leading to the evacuation of students as police, fire services, and bomb disposal teams launched extensive searches throughout the city.
Schools Affected by Threats
The schools that received the threatening emails include Zydus School of Excellence in Vejalpur-Jivraj Park, Zaber School for Children, Maharaja Agrasen Vidyalaya, and DAV International School. Shortly after, similar emails were reported from Construction School, James Genesis International School, Divine Child School, and Invention School.
Details of the Threatening Emails
Authorities reported that the first alert was received around 10 AM, prompting local police teams to respond immediately. As a precaution, personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG), Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), dog squads, and the fire department were deployed, with fire tenders and ambulances on standby.
The emails, sent from an overseas address, contained a subject line indicating a bomb threat, claiming that explosions would occur around 1:11 PM. The messages referenced alleged bombings in Ahmedabad and included inflammatory political language, threatening prominent public figures.
Ongoing Investigations
Officials are taking the content of the emails seriously, although their authenticity has yet to be confirmed. A senior police officer stated, "The language used in the emails is concerning and appears intended to incite fear. We are analyzing the technical details of the emails to trace their source."
Evacuations and Searches Underway
According to Vejalpur police, the management of Zydus School of Excellence notified the police immediately upon receiving the email. "Our team arrived on the scene without delay. Students and staff were safely evacuated, and a thorough search of the premises was conducted," they reported.
Similar evacuation drills were carried out at other schools, with management quickly announcing early dismissals to ensure student safety. All school campuses were sealed to allow security agencies to conduct comprehensive investigations. Senior officials from the fire department and district-level authorities were present at various locations to coordinate emergency preparations.
No Suspicious Items Found
So far, police have confirmed that no suspicious items or explosives have been recovered from any of the schools. An SOG officer stated, "Nothing objectionable has been found yet, but searches are being conducted carefully. Cybercrime teams are involved in tracing the sender, analyzing email headers and server routes to determine whether these threats were false or part of a coordinated attempt to instill fear across multiple institutions."
Community Response and Increased Security
The incident has raised concerns among parents, many of whom rushed to the school premises upon hearing about the evacuations. Police have urged citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information on social media.
As a precaution, security has been heightened at schools and other sensitive locations throughout Ahmedabad, with additional police patrols deployed. Further information is awaited as investigations continue.