A letter threatening a bomb blast was discovered inside an international flight at Gujarat’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Monday morning, police officials confirmed.
The letter was found under a seat of a Jeddah-Ahmedabad flight after it landed at the airport. An investigation was launched immediately after the authorities arrived on the scene, but further searching of the aircraft revealed no suspicious items.
Police Joint Commissioner (Crime Branch) Sharad Singhal said the letter was found by the airline cleaning crew after all the passengers left. Upon receiving the alert, local police, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and other security agencies conducted a comprehensive search of the aircraft to ensure safety.
“A flight carrying passengers from Jeddah landed at the Ahmedabad airport in the morning. After all passengers deboarded, the cleaning staff found a note with a threat to blow up the flight. Local police, along with security agencies, have started an investigation,” an official stated.
Authorities have also engaged forensic experts to analyse fingerprints and handwriting samples from the letter in an attempt to identify its origin. Investigators will match the fingerprints and handwriting of passengers to determine if any of them were involved in placing the note.
“As of now, nothing suspicious has been found inside the aircraft. However, we are conducting a thorough investigation. Fingerprints and handwriting samples of passengers will be checked to identify if someone was behind this act,” the official added.
The nature of the threat only caused temporary alarm for security; regular activities were not disrupted in any way. Security arrangements at the airport have been increased, and the situation is being monitored closely to eliminate other risks.
Further information regarding what the letter contained has not been released by the authorities, and the investigation is still underway. Security forces are trying to find out if any letter was a hoax or was meant to create a state of panic.
Recent bomb threats
The latest in a series of bomb threats by letters or emails to establishments across the country that have so far turned out to be hoaxes since February 7 was when noted colleges and two schools in the Delhi-NCR received bomb threats over email, leading police to dispatch the explosive disposal unit and dog squads to search their premises.
The emails went to St Stephen’s College, a constituent of Delhi University, Ahlcon International School in Mayur Vihar Phase-1, and Shiv Nadar School in Noida. Delhi Police classified it as a hoax all after a thorough check of the premises.
Nodal officer (Noida) Ram Badan Singh too dismissed as hoax, the threat mail to Shiv Nadar School.
“The college premises have been thoroughly checked with the dog squad accompanied by college security, who scanned each block and open spaces. Nothing suspicious was found. The premises are in the custody of the college now,” said a statement from the Delhi police.
The police also searched the premises of Ahlcon International School and according to their statement, nothing suspicious was found.
Earlier, a senior police officer had said the email requesting the bomb scare was sent to St Stephen’s College around 7:42 AM. “Our bomb and dog teams are on ground checking the entire premises,” he had said.
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An officer of the East Delhi district said around 6:40 AM on Friday, the officials of Ahlcon International School had informed the police of the email, stating there was a bomb threat in the school premises.
Earlier from February 4, two private schools in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh were evacuated after receiving bomb threats through emails, which turned out to be hoaxes, police said.