A tweet from a Twitter handle named Islamic State Media (@ISIS_Med) threatening a Sydney-like hostage situation in Bengaluru went viral and led to panic in the city on Monday. However, police soon confirmed that it was a tweet from an account mocking the IS. The tweet was later taken down.
At 11.18 a.m. on Monday, @ISIS_Med tweeted: “#Sydney. This is just the beginning. We'll launch a huge hostage operation in Bangalore tomorrow, in support of Shami. #LastWordsOFaJihadi”. This was picked up by the electronic media. Some Kannada news channels even held panel discussions in anticipation of a possible terror threat to the city.
Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said that @ISIS_Med described itself as a parody account and hence there was no threat perception to the city. “The media should not resort to scare mongering. This is highly uncalled for and unwarranted. I request the media to look at the source of their information very carefully, cross-verify with the police and only then publish any information that may have a bearing on public sentiment and public order,” he said.
In Belagavi, Home Minister K.J. George said that there was no need for panic.
