Delhi Police are facing significant challenges in tracing repeated bomb-threat emails sent to schools, with only one alleged perpetrator identified among more than 120 registered cases since 2024, according to the supplied report.
The repeated threats have disrupted school activities, triggered security inspections and caused concern among students, parents and school administrators. Although several threats have been declared hoaxes, authorities must assess each report carefully to ensure student safety.
Why Are School Bomb Threat Emails Difficult to Investigate?
At least six schools in Delhi, including The British School, Mount Carmel School and Ahlcon Public School, reportedly received threatening emails on Thursday morning. Security teams searched the premises after the messages arrived at around 9 am, and the threats were subsequently declared hoaxes.
Investigators face difficulties when emails appear to originate from overseas networks or involve services that conceal a sender's identity. Requests for electronic records from international service providers can also take considerable time, particularly when formal cross-border legal procedures are required.
Some providers may have limited records available, making it harder for investigators to establish who sent a message and from where.
These challenges demonstrate why digital evidence preservation, cooperation between service providers and timely investigative coordination are important in cybercrime cases.
How Many Cases Have Delhi Police Traced?
According to the supplied report, Delhi Police registered more than 120 cases related to school bomb threats since 2024 but identified only one alleged sender.
In January 2025, investigators reportedly traced a 17-year-old student suspected of sending repeated threats to schools in south Delhi between July 2024 and January 2025. The report states that investigators identified a weakness associated with a VPN service used in the case.
Another investigation concerning threats reportedly sent to more than 250 schools in 2024 led authorities to a suspect believed to be in Russia, although an arrest did not follow.
These cases illustrate the distinction between identifying a potential suspect and completing an investigation that leads to legal action.
Repeated Threats Disrupt Classes and Burden Families
Even when a threat ultimately proves false, schools cannot simply ignore it. Security assessments, searches and precautionary measures can interrupt classes for several hours.
Namita Singhal, principal of Venkateshwar Global School in Rohini, reportedly described the time required for inspections. Tania Joshi, principal of The Indian School, also highlighted the need for schools to maintain their own emergency procedures in response to repeated incidents.
Parents may need to leave work to collect their children, while school administrations coordinate transport arrangements or move students to designated safe areas.
Repeated disruptions can place additional pressure on school staff and families, making effective communication and consistent emergency planning essential.
What Could Help Improve Investigations?
Delhi Police established a dedicated cell in May to address these cases, according to the supplied report. The unit reportedly comprises six officials working under an assistant commissioner, although it also handles other cybercrime matters.
Former deputy commissioner of police Rajan Bhagat called for stronger coordination, centralised intelligence and faster preservation of electronic evidence.
Investigators may benefit from examining connections between separate incidents, including available email records, digital evidence and patterns across previous cases. Coordinated analysis could help authorities identify related incidents rather than investigating every threat in isolation.
International cooperation and timely responses from digital service providers may also assist investigations. At the same time, schools need clear procedures for evaluating threats and communicating with parents, while ensuring that security decisions remain grounded in appropriate assessments.
The Challenge of Protecting Schools From Online Threats
The unresolved cases highlight the difficulties of investigating anonymous digital threats, particularly when evidence crosses national borders. Identifying suspects requires more than tracing an apparent internet connection; investigators must establish reliable links between digital evidence and the people allegedly responsible.
Improved evidence preservation, inter-agency coordination and international cooperation could strengthen investigations. Schools must also maintain appropriate safety procedures so that every threat receives serious attention without allowing repeated hoaxes to cause avoidable disruption.