Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 12: A bomb threat targeting Mumbai's iconic Taj Hotel prompted an extensive security operation in the early hours of Sunday before police confirmed that the alert was a hoax.

According to police, the threat was received at around 12.13 a.m. when an unidentified caller contacted the Navi Mumbai Police Control Room and allegedly claimed that a bomb had been planted at the Taj Hotel. The information was immediately passed on to the Mumbai Police Control Room.

Following the alert, personnel from Colaba Police, the Crime Branch and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) rushed to the hotel and carried out a thorough search of the premises.

Security teams inspected the hotel's lobby, banquet halls, restaurants, swimming pool, parking areas, surrounding premises and other sensitive locations. After an exhaustive search, officials confirmed that no explosives or suspicious objects were found.

Police subsequently declared the bomb threat to be false.

Investigators said the threatening call was traced to the Turbhe area of Navi Mumbai. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the caller with the assistance of Turbhe Police using the mobile number from which the call was made.

The Taj Hotel in south Mumbai's Colaba area was among the principal targets during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, in which 166 people were killed and hundreds were injured.

The latest incident comes a day after another hoax bomb threat prompted a large-scale security operation at Delhi's Red Fort. That alert was also triggered by a phone call received by the Mumbai Police Control Room, which immediately informed Delhi Police.

Following the warning, security personnel and bomb disposal squads conducted an extensive search of the Red Fort before confirming that the threat was unfounded. Authorities are investigating both incidents.