Bomb threats target CM residence, offices and airports
Hyphen Web Desk
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Security forces in Kerala are on high alert following a series of bomb threats directed at several critical government locations and public infrastructure, including the office and residence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Raj Bhavan, and Nedumbassery airport.
Authorities launched extensive search operations after threatening emails were sent to the finance secretary and the chief minister’s private secretary, warning of imminent explosions within two and a half hours.
The transport commissioner’s office in Thiruvananthapuram was among the facilities targeted with identical threat messages, raising concern about a coordinated attempt to spread fear across the state. Police teams, assisted by bomb disposal units, swiftly conducted comprehensive inspections at the identified sites but have so far not uncovered any suspicious materials. State Police Chief Sheikh Darvesh Saheb confirmed that the preliminary investigations suggest all the emails originated from a single source, pointing towards a deliberate campaign to disrupt normalcy.
The surge in bomb threats follows similar incidents earlier this week when the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Thampanoor Railway Station were targeted. At the airport, an email sent to the manager's official address triggered immediate security sweeps, leading to the mobilisation of bomb squads and sniffer dog units. Train services and airport operations were temporarily placed under heightened surveillance, although no devices were found during the inspections.
The Home Department has intensified security protocols, issuing advisories to all district police chiefs to maintain a state of enhanced vigilance. Rapid Action Force units and the National Security Guard have been placed on standby should the situation escalate further. In Thiruvananthapuram, checkposts have been strengthened, and vehicle inspections have increased sharply, especially near high-security zones such as the Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, and major transport hubs.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high-level meeting with senior officials to assess the situation and review the countermeasures being implemented. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Vijayan assured the public that there was no cause for panic but emphasised the need for heightened alertness. "The threats are being taken with the utmost seriousness, and all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of citizens," he said.
The transport commissioner’s office in Thiruvananthapuram was among the facilities targeted with identical threat messages, raising concern about a coordinated attempt to spread fear across the state. Police teams, assisted by bomb disposal units, swiftly conducted comprehensive inspections at the identified sites but have so far not uncovered any suspicious materials. State Police Chief Sheikh Darvesh Saheb confirmed that the preliminary investigations suggest all the emails originated from a single source, pointing towards a deliberate campaign to disrupt normalcy.
The surge in bomb threats follows similar incidents earlier this week when the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Thampanoor Railway Station were targeted. At the airport, an email sent to the manager's official address triggered immediate security sweeps, leading to the mobilisation of bomb squads and sniffer dog units. Train services and airport operations were temporarily placed under heightened surveillance, although no devices were found during the inspections.
The Home Department has intensified security protocols, issuing advisories to all district police chiefs to maintain a state of enhanced vigilance. Rapid Action Force units and the National Security Guard have been placed on standby should the situation escalate further. In Thiruvananthapuram, checkposts have been strengthened, and vehicle inspections have increased sharply, especially near high-security zones such as the Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, and major transport hubs.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high-level meeting with senior officials to assess the situation and review the countermeasures being implemented. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Vijayan assured the public that there was no cause for panic but emphasised the need for heightened alertness. "The threats are being taken with the utmost seriousness, and all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of citizens," he said.
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