ISLAMABAD: Teachers and students hurriedly vacated a school in Sector F-8 on Monday after a mysterious caller informed the staff that bombs planted in the school could go off any time.

Police sealed off the area but a thorough search of the school by the bomb disposal squad turned up no explosives.

“It was a hoax call,” the police said and went off in search of the caller who was traced through his mobile number. He turned out to be a student of the school.

“Initially, the boy claimed his younger brother had made the call but later admitted his guilt,” a police investigator told Dawn.

Police let off the teenaged prankster but asked his parents to keep an eye on him “because he told police that he did it for fun”.

“We couldn’t be harsh with the boy. He is young and legal action would have spoiled his studies and future,” a senior police officer explained.

However, his school has been advised by the police to discipline him.

Meanwhile, the police were priding themselves for “responding fast” to a panicky situation but also conscious that “there is always room for improvement”.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2015

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