An email sent to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Bengaluru facility triggered a major security response on Thursday, following which authorities mounted efforts, including the evacuation of the premises and the launch of an extensive search operation.
Sources familiar with the incident said that ISRO received an email on Thursday, claiming that an explosive device had been planted on the campus. Realising the gravity of the situation, officials immediately evacuated the facility, while the police and specialised bomb disposal squads rushed to the scene.
Representative image
Preliminary reports indicate that the email is part of a series of hoax bomb threats which have recently targeted prominent institutions across Karnataka. However, authorities are inspecting the premises to rule out any security risks.
Bomb disposal teams conduct search operation
Police sources told the media that the entire ISRO campus is being thoroughly searched after the evacuation. Bomb detection and disposal squads have been deployed to the scene to inspect every section of the premises in accordance with standard security protocols.
Until now, officials have not found any incriminating material from the institute’s premises. Nevertheless, the search operation is still underway as investigators continue to verify the authenticity of the threat.
Authorities emphasised that every bomb threat is treated as genuine until proven otherwise.
Similar hoax threats reported across Karnataka recently
The investigating agencies believe the email may be linked to an ongoing pattern of hoax bomb threats sent to several high-profile institutions in recent weeks.
Police sources underlined that similar emails were recently received by the Karnataka High Court (HC) and multiple schools in Bengaluru, all of which eventually turned out to be false alarms.
Despite this, law enforcement agencies have maintained heightened vigilance given the potential security implications of such threats. Officials are also persevering in efforts to trace the origin of the latest email and identify the ones who sent it.
Delhi cops nab man in hoax bomb threat case
The latest incident comes a day after Delhi Police nabbed a man from Ghaziabad for allegedly sending hoax bomb threats to numerous establishments over several days.
According to reports, the accused, identified as Nishant Tyagi, has been undergoing treatment for mental health issues for several years. His family informed police about his medical condition.
The cops are trying to establish his motive for sending the threatening emails at present. During the probe, the cops did not recover any explosives or materials that could be used to manufacture bombs.