In a startling turn of events, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) made a crucial arrest on Friday involving a threatening email sent to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The email, received by the airport’s management, demanded a staggering sum of one million US dollars in Bitcoin, under the threat of blowing up Terminal 2 within 48 hours.
The ATS initiated an investigation after the Mumbai International Airport Limited flagged the alarming email received at 11:06 am on Thursday through its feedback inbox. The email, laden with threats, stated, “This is a final warning to your airport. We will blast Terminal 2 in 48 hours unless one million US dollars in Bitcoin is transferred to the address. Another alert will be after 24 Hrs.”
Subsequently, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Sahar police station under Indian Penal Code sections 385, pertaining to putting a person in fear of injury for extortion, and 505(1)(b), addressing statements made with intent to cause fear or public alarm.
The ATS cyber cell, running a parallel investigation, swiftly tracked the email’s origin to Kerala through the IP address. Following this lead, a team promptly flew to the southern state, culminating in the arrest of the accused individual. While the authorities have refrained from disclosing the suspect’s identity, reports confirm that the apprehended person is being escorted to Mumbai and will be handed over to the Sahar Police for further proceedings.
The arrest highlights the severity with which authorities handle threats to public safety and infrastructure. The case underscores the collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies and their swift action in tracing and apprehending individuals involved in such alarming incidents.
The Maharashtra ATS, in its unwavering commitment to ensuring public safety, continues to investigate the matter thoroughly, with the hope of preventing such threats and safeguarding the nation’s security.
Sources By Agencies
