KUALA LUMPUR: The email with the bomb hoax that disrupted classes at 19 schools nationwide is believed to have been sent to 70 schools in Jamaica earlier this month, says Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
The purported email account behind the hoax – takstorer – in German meant the disruptor of peace, he said.
Razarudin said investigations into the contents of the email revealed that it was originally written in English and then translated into Bahasa Malaysia.
“The same content was also sent to 70 schools in Jamaica on Nov 12 using the same email service provider.
“Investigation is now focusing on whether the incident in Malaysia is related to that in Jamaica, which is believed to have been masterminded by one individual, who may have experienced childhood abuse and lack of attention, but also expertise in the field of software computer to protect his identity,” he said.
He said 19 schools in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, Perak and Negri Sembilan reported receiving the same email.
“As soon as police received information about the bomb threat, action was taken to evacuate the buildings.
“Police elements including the bomb disposal unit conducted bomb flushing exercises,” he said, adding that no threat was found.
Police, he said, had initiated investigations under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act for misuse of network facilities.
In Penang, George Town acting OCPD Supt V. Saravanan said the two schools – a private Japanese school and an international school – lodged police reports after receiving the emails.
“Both schools filed separate police reports – one at the Tanjung Tokong police station at 11.20am and the other at the Datuk Keramat police station at 12.27pm yesterday,” he said.
Supt Saravanan said K9 units were sent to both schools, adding that nothing suspicious was found at both locations.
“Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department were sent to both schools as well,” he said, adding that the two cases in Penang appeared similar to other cases in the Klang Valley.
“A review request will be made to the Communications and Multimedia Commission to identify the source of the email,” he said.
In Perak, state police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said they received a report of a bomb threat at an international school.
The report was lodged by the international school in Meru Raya at 10.10am yesterday.
“The school management received an email from an unknown individual about the bomb threat at its building.
“We acted swiftly and called in our police bomb disposal unit to conduct a thorough sweep of the premises.
“We found no suspicious objects and declared the premises safe, allowing all teaching staff and students to reenter at about 1.15pm,” he said in a statement.
In Johor, five private schools were targeted.
State police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat confirmed that the schools in Permas Jaya, Masai, Gelang Patah, Kulai and Muar received the email between 11am and 6.18pm yesterday.
“After receiving the reports, teams of policemen including the bomb squad and canine unit were sent to the schools to investigate the alleged threat,” he said.
“We searched the school areas and no suspicious object was found. The locations have been deemed safe,” he said.
