Kerala temples gets bomb threats via email, police and bomb squad on site

THE Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, have received a bomb threat via email on September 13, according to an ANI report citing police sources.

The police and bomb squad are conducting security checks at both temples, police said, adding that the incident was a non-specific threat.

Further details are awaited as investigations continue.

Further, an emailed bomb threat was also sent to the Taj Palace staff on September 13, but later declared a “hoax” after extensive search by the Delhi Police, an official said.

“After a thorough security check, authorities have declared the threat a hoax. The safety and security of our guests and employees is of paramount importance to us and we continue to remain vigilant,” a Taj Palace spokesperson said.

Multiple teams of the Delhi Police, including a bomb disposal squad (BDS), dog squad and a quick reaction team (QRT) were rushed to the spot, the official said.

On September 12, too, the Delhi High Court received an email threat warning of a bomb in and around the court premises, which led to panic and disruption of the court proceedings. Following the email, all judges, lawyers, litigants, and staff were evacuated from the premises.

Later. the security forces, including Delhi Police and bomb disposal squads, swiftly cordoned off the area. Additionally, as a precautionary measure, firefighter vehicles and ambulances were also deployed in the area. The teams with sniffer dogs also searched the premises.

However, following the inspection of the court premises, New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Devesh Kumar Mahla said the bomb threat seemed to be a hoax.

Earlier this week, bomb threats were also sent through e-mail to the Delhi Chief Minister's Secretariat, Maulana Azad Medical College and University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), which were later declared to be hoaxes.