IndiGo, Air India Express bomb threats trigger high alert at major airports including Mumbai, Delhi — What we know

Two days after a high-intensity explosion near the capital's iconic Red Fort, major airports in India are on high alert on November 12 after the Delhi fire brigade received a call at 4 pm today about a bomb being found at Delhi Airport Terminal 3. The tip was investigated and ruled as a hoax, according to the city police.

An earlier report by News18 said that five airports in India, including in Delhi and Mumbai, are put on high alert after carrier IndiGo reported the bomb threats.

IndiGo Airlines, Air India get bomb threats

IndiGo Airlines also received an email on its grievance portal warning about bomb threats to several airports, including Delhi, Chennai, and Goa. “Following the information, precautionary checks have been conducted at all locations,” they added.

In a statement, a spokesperson for domestic carrier Air India Express said that one of its flights also received a security threat, and the same was reported to the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee.

“One of our flights to Varanasi received a security threat. In line with protocol, the Government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was immediately alerted, and all necessary security procedures promptly initiated. The flight landed safely, and all passengers have been disembarked. The aircraft will be released for operations once all mandated security checks are completed,” the spokesperson stated.

Hunt on for red Ford EcoSport car used by suspects

Meanwhile, the Delhi police earlier today said that all police stations, outposts and border checkpoints across the national capital have been placed on alert to search for a red Ford EcoSport, used by the suspects as an additional vehicle.

Investigators discovered that the suspects in the Red Fort blast case were using a second car vehicle the Hyundai i20 previously identified, Delhi Police informed on Wednesday, 12 November.

According to officials, five Delhi Police teams have been deployed to trace the car, which is believed to hold crucial evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Police in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have also been notified about the development, as investigators suspect the suspects may have travelled across state borders.

‘White collar’ terror module busted in Haryana

The Red Fort blast on a busy Monday evening came hours after eight people, including three doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized with the uncovering of a “white collar” terror module involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The Delhi police's Kotwali Police Station has registered a case under Sections 16 and 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act in the Red Fort blast incident. Various relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have also been applied.

Eight people have been arrested in relation to the Delhi blast. Of these, seven are from Kashmir. They arrested have been identified as: Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid from Nowgam in Srinagar; Maulvi Irfan Ahmad from Shopian; Zameer Ahmad Ahanger alias Mutlasha from Wakura area of Ganderbal; Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie alias Musaib from Koil area of Pulwama, and Dr Adeel from Wanpora area of Kulgam. While Dr Shaheen Sayeed is from Lucknow.

(With inputs from Agencies)