Hoax Social Media Bomb Threat At Delhi Airport Leads To Counter-Terror Security Drills

A counter-terrorist security exercise was initiated at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi early this morning following intelligence received about a social media chat containing threats to “bomb and eliminate” the country’s largest civil aviation facility, according to official sources.

Around 6:30 am, the threat was classified as “non-specific” or a hoax, while regular passenger traffic continued at the facility, as reported by Press Trust of India. Airport security officials were alerted to a social media post, responding to another message, suggesting that the Indira Gandhi International Airport should be bombed. The chat posts, authored by individuals currently under investigation by the police, also discussed plans to “eliminate” the airport.

The bomb threat assessment committee (BTAC) protocol was activated at IGI around 5:15 am. Following anti-sabotage checks conducted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Delhi Police, and other airport authorities, the threat was deemed a “hoax” and “not serious.”

The Indira Gandhi International Airport, located in the national capital, is designated as “hypersensitive” from a security standpoint. It serves as a crucial transit point for numerous passengers daily, handling both domestic and international departures and arrivals.