Bomb threat in Kochi turns out to be hoax

A file picture of Mattancherry Synagogue at Kochi. Photo: H. Vibhi.

An SMS message, warning about explosion at five places in the city, on Sunday sent the police into a tizzy but they declared the threat to be a hoax following detailed search.

Searches in other areas, including the Railway station and Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), were continuing, police said.

Police were alerted by a journalist, who was informed of the possible threat by a woman who received the SMS. A bomb squad and sniffer dogs searched Oberon Mall and premises near Edapally junction and found nothing, police said.

Kochi and surrounding areas have been put on high alert after an intelligence input of a LeT threat.

Police said they are trying to trace the origin of the message.

In the wake of the intelligence inputs, security has been beefed up at Kochi international airport and coastal areas, police said.

Commandos have been posted at tourist spots like Jewish Synangogue at Mattancherry and St Francis church at Fort Kochi.

The Southern Naval command and Cochin Shipyard Ltd, where India’s first indigenously developed Aircraft carrier is being built, are some of the important installations in Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala.