Airport bomb threat sent to VINO who alerted CoP & National Security Council - TB Lettsome International Airport was temporarily closed

TRELLIS BAY, Beef Island, VI- At around 4:52 PM today, Sunday, May 5, 2024, an Email was sent to one of Virgin Islands News Online's (VINO) Email addresses purporting to be from a ‘Vika Melin’ with a foreign language at the bottom of the name which appears to be from Eastern Europe.

The caption of the Email was “Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport will be bombed today”. Knowing our news centre’s history of responsible journalism, we did not rush to report about the Email, unaware of whether it was credible or a hoax.

Quick action by Police & BVIAA

Our News Centre immediately shared the Email with members of the National Security Council (NSC), including Commissioner of Police Mark Collins, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), and Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) whose portfolio is also the airports. The Email sent to VINO was also forwarded to the BVI Airports Authority's Managing Director Mr Kurk A. G. Menal and Deputy Commissioner of Police St Clair Amory.