Panic gripped Indian security agencies after bomb threat at Taj Mahal

A bomb threat to the Taj Mahal in Agra put Indian security agencies on high alert, prompting authorities to evacuate over 1,500 tourists at the iconic tourist site, usually bustling with local and international visitors.

The incident occured on Tuesday. The threat was received via an email sent to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, warning of an explosion at the 17th-century monument commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

Indian security agencies conducted a two-hour search operation in the premises and inspected visitors' belongings. Despite the extensive search, authorities could not discover any suspicious item or a suspect. 

“Nothing suspicious was found, and the monument remained open for tourists,” said Prince Vajpayee, senior conservation assistant at ASI, Taj Mahal.

The email was later deemed a hoax, and Indian law enforcement agencies launched an investigation to trace its sender.

This was not the first time the Taj Mahal had been targeted with fake bomb threats. In March 2021, a similar threat led to the evacuation of around 1,000 tourists from the site