Bomb scare sends IBM staff home

BANGALORE: IBM today sent its employees home following a bomb threat this morning.

Sources said IBM had received an anonymous telephone call about 10.30 a.m., which said a bomb was placed at its centre at the Embassy Golf Links (EGL) here.

The employees were ordered to evacuate and return home.

An EGL spokesperson told CyberMedia News that the police searched the premises. No explosives were found.

Convergys on Bannerghatta Road had also received a hoax phone call on Thursday evening following which its staff was ordered out of the building.

Meanwhile, the police maintained high vigil here following a letter, which warned of bomb blasts on New Year's eve.

The letter warned of bomb blasts at two places on Saturday night - one at a five star hotel and another at the chief minister's residence here. Someone who called himself Moinuddin, had faxed the letter.

"It is one of the most systematic executions ever to take place in the country," the letter addressed to the Bangalore commissioner of police said.

The letter written in English, also said six attackers would trigger explosions, including "two other human bombs" to target the state chief minister's residence."

The copies of the letter were faxed to a few newspaper offices and the chief minister as well.

The IT hub of India was shocked on Wednesday when an unidentified gunman sprayed bullets on delegates of an international conference at the Indian Institute or Science here. A retired professor was killed in the attack.

Notwithstanding the terrorist attack and bomb threats, life in Bangalore remained normal on Friday.