44 hoax bomb threat reports received, says IGP

Police received 44 hoax bomb threat reports involving government, private, and international schools nationwide between Tuesday (Nov 21) and 8am today, said Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain.

He said the email sender used the name ‘Taktstorer’, identified as originating from Cyprus, and the IP (internet protocol) address from Finland keeps changing.

“We have contacted all the state education directors for schools with Google emails to identify the threats,” he told reporters after an anti-graft pledge ceremony and the launch of 3C Rules in conjunction with the 2023 Integrity Month 2023 at Royal Malaysia Police College in Cheras today.

Razarudin said police have also carried out security flushing on the grounds of the schools involved.

"I assure parents, students, and teachers that their safety is the priority of the police," he said.

He said investigations found that other countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, and the United States have also received hoax bomb threats.

Jamaica received as many as 70 hoax calls, he said, adding that investigations are ongoing with the assistance of the countries involved, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Reports lodged

Meanwhile, a teacher at a religious secondary school in Jalan Pokok Machang in Penang lodged a police report at 1.55pm today after the school received a bomb threat via email.

Penang police chief Khaw Kok Chin said the religious secondary school received the email on Tuesday but only noticed it today.

“Based on the email, it is the same sender who sent similar information to others on Tuesday,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

In Perak, at the Manjung district police headquarters today, the headmaster of a special needs school in Sitiawan lodged a report stating he received a bomb threat via email from an unknown individual, two days ago.

Manjung police chief Mohamed Nordin Abdullah said in a statement today that the email was received on Nov 21.

“It said ‘There are explosives planted in the school’ and created much fear in the school,” he added.

He said the headmaster had received the Education Ministry’s email regarding the bomb threats to schools at about 11.20am today, adding that investigations were underway and advised the public to refrain from speculations that could jeopardise investigations.

Any information on the case can be forwarded to investigation officer Suhailah Sahabat at 016-5845480 to facilitate investigations, he added.

- Bernama