Kochi, Sunday 14 March 2010: An SMS message, warning about explosion at five places in the city, today sent the police into a tizzy but they declared the threat to be a hoax following detailed search.

Searches in other areas, including the Railway station and Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), were continuing, police said. Police were alerted by a journalist, who was informed of the possible threat by a woman who received the SMS.

A bomb squad and sniffer dogs searched Oberon Mall and premises near Edapally junction and found nothing, police said.

Kochi and surrounding areas have been put on high alert after an intelligence input of a LeT threat.The police later clarified that the message was sent by a college student of Ettumanoor.