Multiple emails threatening a bomb attack at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lab under the Byappanahalli police station limits in Bengaluru, police said on Monday.
According to reports, following the threats, the premises were evacuated and thoroughly searched by police along with the bomb disposal squad and fire services however, the officials later declared the threat a hoax.
According to officials, the email, written in Tamil, claimed that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) had been planted in the premises and would explode around 1:30 pm.
The sender also issued a warning that the grandson of an influential politician from Tamil Nadu would be kidnapped.
The message reportedly came from an ID ‘Kiruthiha.udhayanidhi@hotmail’, allegedly warning of a plot to abduct Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s grandson.
The Central Crime Branch police reportedly intensified their investigation to trace the accused behind the email threats. As a precautionary measure, security has been increased at defence establishments across the city.
In a similar incident, panic gripped two prominent colleges of the University of Delhi on Monday morning after bomb threat emails were reported at Ramjas College and Miranda House.
Following this, authorities swiftly evacuated students and staff as a precaution while security agencies sealed off the campuses to carry out thorough inspections.
The email warned of multiple explosive devices allegedly containing toxic gas, claiming they would detonate around midday. Acting promptly, teams from the bomb disposal squad, along with police personnel and sniffer dogs, carried out detailed searches across both institutions.
After an extensive sweep, no explosives or suspicious materials were discovered, leading authorities to classify the threat as a hoax.
Investigators have noted a surge in fake bomb threats across the country over the past year.
Last week, Delhi Police arrested a 47-year-old man from Karnataka’s Mysuru for allegedly sending over 1,100 hoax threat messages targeting schools, high courts and government offices across the country.