Hoax Bomb Threat Triggers Security Scare At Mumbai Press Club

Mumbai: A major security alert was triggered in Mumbai on Friday when the Mumbai Press Club received a threatening email claiming that several poisonous gas-filled explosive devices had been planted in its premises. This led to a massive search operation by the Mumbai Police and other security agencies. Since no suspicious substance was found, it turned out that the treat was fake.

According to police, the email was allegedly sent by a person who identified herself as Neeraja Ajmal Khan. The sender claimed that some 42 ‘poisonous gas’ devices were placed in the Press Club building and that the explosion could occur around 13:00 on Friday.

The email also contained many claims and allegations. The sender described himself as a representative of Muslims in Coimbatore and accused the authorities of injustice and suppressing their voices. It was also stated that the action was carried out using limited resources and that the Press Club was especially targeted. However, the sender stated that the intention was to cause harm and called on people to evacuate the building.

The mail read: “We Muslims of Coimbatore have learned a painful truth: Udhayanidhi’s cunning family used us only as a vote bank and punished us in the name of protecting us. All our leaders who supported DMK in the last election have now been arrested under ‘UAPA’ by the same Udhayanidhi whom we also support. When we tried to expose them, Tamil Nadu media houses blocked us. So, we came to your state but you also disappointed us.”

He added: “To be honest, with the help of Naxalites and Pakistani secret cells in Coimbatore, we only had enough resources to blow up 3-4 buildings. We never thought that we would have to use them because we were sure that you would help us expose the DMK government. We thought at least other states like Madhya Pradesh were not under the thrall of DMK. But now it is clear that you too are living off Udhayanidhi’s money. So, Press Club We used the bomb resources available in your office, we only intended to cause material damage; please evacuate long live the Naxalite Jihad Committee!

Police and security forces took action immediately after receiving the e-mail and intensified surveillance at the Press Club building. A search operation was launched and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) teams and a dog team were deployed to thoroughly search the area and neutralize any possible threats.

A senior Mumbai Police official said, “We are taking the threat very seriously. All necessary precautions have been taken and a large number of teams have been deployed to the area. The facilities are being thoroughly checked to ensure public safety.”