New Delhi: Security has been intensified at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after a threat email was received by IGI police station, warning of a possible bomb attack by terrorist outfit Al Qaeda.
The email, received by Delhi Police on Saturday evening, warned of a bomb that could be used at the airport in the next one to three days. However, the threat was later found to be “non-specific” and the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee, after an intensive search, was terminated from the airport.
Sources claim the cops received an email, which stated that “planned bomb blast by Al Qaeda Sargana at IGI airport. Karanbir Suri alias Mohamad Jalal and Karanbir Suri’s wife Shaily Sharda alias Haseena are coming to India on Sunday from Singapore and plan to put the bomb at IGI in 1-3 days (sic).”
Immediately, cops alerted the airport officials and the Airport Operations Control Centre, with checks carried out at the premises. Around 7.18pm, the BTAC declared the bomb-threat as “non-specific”. It, however, asked for heightened security to remain on the premises.
Officials said an anti-sabotage check was carried out soon after, alongside access control at all terminal points, checking of vehicles on airport premises and increased patrolling and checking at nakas on the access road leading up to the airport.
CISF officials said that checks by their quick-reaction teams would continue on the premises owing to the bomb threat, as well as Independence Day. Dog squad was also being put to use, with a bomb detection and disposal squad ready on alert.
The Security Operations Control Centre of the airport, on inspection, found that a similar threat message had been received by the airport in March, mentioning similar names and the same threat. Even in March, the threat was declared ‘non-specific’ by BTAC, officials added.