Man arrested for fake bomb threat at Batumi shopping center

A Georgian citizen has been detained for falsely claiming that a shopping center in the Black Sea resort city of Batumi was rigged with explosives on May 6, Georgia's State Security Service (SSS) said in a statement.

According to Report, which cites Georgian media, the suspect allegedly spread a message on May 6, 2024, asserting that a bomb had been planted in a major shopping mall in the popular tourist destination. SSS personnel swiftly conducted a thorough sweep of the building, confirming the absence of any explosive devices.

If convicted of issuing a false terrorism alert, the detained individual could face a prison sentence ranging from three to six years. The SSS revealed that dozens of similar bogus threats targeting public gatherings, educational institutions, and international airports have been identified during the course of the investigation.

Authorities have determined that the majority of these alarming messages originated from abroad. The countries, email addresses, and IP addresses linked to the threats have been pinpointed, and the SSS is collaborating with partner nations to identify the perpetrators behind the disturbing communications.