Pune airport on high alert after bomb threat; declared a hoax

An emailed threat warning of "powerful explosive devices" hidden in the airport and planes triggered a massive search operation by CISF and the Bomb Squad. Police have now launched a probe to trace the sender of the hoax mail

Pune: A bomb threat received by a private airline at Pune’s international airport was declared a hoax on Tuesday after extensive searches revealed nothing suspicious, according to police.

The threat, which came in the form of an email, prompted a thorough check of the airport premises by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and local police.

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An official from the Vimantal police station confirmed that “no suspicious object or person was found.”

The airline’s customer care executive discovered the email at approximately 6:45 am on Sunday, though it was sent earlier at 1:25 am. The email warned, “Powerful explosive devices are hidden inside the backpacks placed around the airport and planes. You must evacuate the building urgently…people will die.”

Following a complaint from the airline, a case has been registered. The police’s cyber team is now investigating to trace the origin of the email.