A wave of panic swept through the national capital on Thursday after more than 20 schools and one college received chilling bomb threats via email. Institutions including Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate, and St. Thomas School in Dwarka were forced to suspend operations, prompting swift responses from Delhi Police, bomb disposal squads, and fire services.
The threatening messages, laced with violent and suicidal language, claimed that explosive devices had been planted inside classrooms, hidden in black plastic bags. Though all the threats turned out to be hoaxes, the unsettling tone of the emails and the scale of the incident have triggered a high-level investigation.
According to officials, schools across key locations such as Vasant Kunj, Hauz Khas, Rohini, and Dwarka received similar emails during the early hours of the day. Authorities quickly initiated evacuation protocols, secured premises, and carried out extensive searches with sniffer dogs and bomb squads. By late afternoon, all locations were declared safe.
“We are treating this matter with utmost seriousness,” said a senior Delhi Police officer. “Though no actual explosives have been discovered, the psychological and social impact of such threats is significant. We are working with cybercrime experts to trace the origin of these emails.”
Among the first to report the threats were Richmondd Global School in Paschim Vihar and Abhinav Public School in Rohini Sector 3. Parents, alerted by school authorities, rushed to campuses in panic, while children were escorted to safety.
The content of the emails sent chills down the spines of authorities. One email read:
“I have placed several explosive devices (trinitrotoluene) within school classrooms… I will erase every last one of you from this world… You all deserve to suffer… I will commit suicide after the news.”
The sender also included a disturbing tirade against psychiatric treatment, claiming to be failed by mental health professionals and society. The emails referenced suicide, dismemberment, and vengeance, raising alarm not only about the threat but the mental state of the sender.
Schools including Vasant Valley, The Mother’s International School, and even St. Stephen’s College were among the institutions affected. Notably, St. Thomas School in Dwarka received threat emails on two consecutive days—Tuesday and Wednesday—before Thursday’s larger wave.
Thursday’s threats were the third such occurrence this week, and part of what officials describe as a “coordinated hoax campaign” meant to instill fear. Cybersecurity teams have been roped in to trace the IP addresses used to send the messages.
Delhi Fire Services confirmed that all standard procedures were followed. “Our teams responded immediately, scanning each site thoroughly with explosive detection equipment. While all threats have been deemed fake, the safety drills helped prepare schools for such emergencies,” said a DFS spokesperson.
Educational authorities have advised schools to remain alert and review emergency protocols. Many institutions have already decided to continue online classes temporarily while investigations proceed.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police have registered multiple FIRs under sections related to criminal intimidation and causing public alarm. The involvement of central agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has not been ruled out.
Mental health professionals also weighed in, expressing concern over the content of the email. “The language used in the threats suggests deep psychological distress. While hoaxes can be criminal, they may also indicate a person in grave need of help,” said Dr. Ritu Sethi, a clinical psychologist.
As of now, no arrests have been made. The police continue to monitor schools across Delhi while cyber units work to unmask the source of the emails. Parents and educators remain on edge, hoping for swift justice—and long-term safety measures.
