A wave of panic gripped Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on Wednesday morning after more than two dozen schools, the Sabarmati Central Jail, and the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram received chilling bomb threat emails. The threats, which police later confirmed as a hoax, led to massive security deployments, evacuations, and widespread disruption.
Security Forces Swing Into Action
Police teams, including bomb detection and disposal squads, dog squads, and personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG) and Local Crime Branch (LCB), rushed to multiple locations across the city, its rural outskirts, and the state capital Gandhinagar. The threats were received via email around 8:33 AM from a sender identifying as Munro Quickel. The email's subject line read "B0mB BIast @1:11PM".
The message claimed that explosions would occur at schools, the jail, and the Ashram in retaliation for the killing of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was associated with the Khalistani movement. It also mentioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi as potential targets.
Widespread Disruption and Evacuations
In response, approximately 50 schools decided to shut down and send students home immediately. This triggered major traffic snarls around educational institutions as anxious parents rushed to pick up their children. "Every message was treated as a real threat," emphasized a senior police officer.
Thorough search operations were conducted in school buildings, classrooms, corridors, and open grounds. Students were safely escorted out. "No suspicious object or explosive was found at any location," the officer confirmed, declaring the threats a hoax.
The district education officer issued an advisory directing affected schools to call the emergency helpline 112, file formal complaints, and coordinate with police. Schools not targeted were asked to maintain calm.
Cyber Trail Points Overseas
Cyber crime investigators revealed that the threatening emails were routed through foreign servers using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) linked to the United States and Singapore. "There are three different senders. Prima facie, we suspect an individual or group operating from the United Kingdom," a senior official disclosed.
Another officer noted that most of the targeted schools were in western Ahmedabad, with a few in the eastern parts. "The selection of locations and timing suggests an attempt to disrupt normal activity and create fear," the officer stated. By evening, police reiterated that the threats were false. "We found that it was a hoax mail sent by a person living in the UK. However, legal action will follow," an officer said.
In total, police confirmed that 21 schools within Ahmedabad city limits, seven in Ahmedabad rural areas, two in Gandhinagar, along with Sabarmati Central Jail and Sabarmati Ashram received the hoax emails.
