KOCHI: Hours after Tuesday's low intensity blast on the Malappuram collectorate premises, the Kochi city police had received a terror threat saying that strategically important places and persons would be targeted. According to sources, the message was sent from a group which claimed to be Kerala unit of the international terrorist organisation,
al-Qaida.
Sources said that the message was received on a WhatsApp number of the Kochi city police. They added that a case in this regard has been registered at the Ernakulam central police station.
"We are yet to trace the identity of the sender," said an officer. Sources said the message said that central government institutions, central schools, prominent personalities and defence units would be targeted. The message also had mention about persons blacklisted by the Kerala unit of the terror outfit.
Kochi police have launched an extensive probe in the case which is being headed by an ACP ranked official. Police are yet to disclose the details of the number from which the message was sent.