Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow airport at high alert- Dec 24 attack threat

After a security threat call received by Oman Air and Lucknow airport, airports are at high alert.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which manages security at 59 airports across the country, is on high alert till December 24 after receiving details of a passenger potentially travelling to Jeddah from Lucknow with explosives. Passengers are being randomly checked with hand-held explosive trace detectors at Lucknow, Hyderabad and sensitive airports like Delhi and Mumbai following the calls.

The first call was received on December 11 at Lucknow airport following which back to back calls were received at the Hyderabad office of Oman Air giving the same information. A Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was formed and the calls were declared as 'specific' — or serious — and security at airports was enhanced.

"The first call was received at 12.30pm on December 11 and as a precautionary measure, random checks were started. A similar call was received at Hyderabad airport where a woman gave the name, travel details and PNR of a passenger claiming that he will carry explosives. The woman called four more times giving photographs and other details of the passenger," a CISF officer said.