State Security Service: “false reports” of explosives in Batumi facilities “originate from overseas”
SSS said the initiators of the fake notifications at different times have been identified as a specific group of individuals abroad. Photo: SSS press office
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The Georgian State Security Service on Monday said the “false reports” on potential presence of explosives at several locations in the country's western city of Batumi, made on Sunday, had been made from abroad.
The body noted in response to the notifications that its counter-terrorist units and the Ministry of Internal Affairs had implemented precautionary measures in shopping centers and educational institutions across Batumi, with no explosive devices found.
Those making the false notifications used a mobile phone number of a minor citizen of Georgia, the agency noted, and added a criminal investigation was underway over false reporting of terrorism and the related agencies of partner states had been informed for necessary aid.
The agency further noted false reports about a terrorist attack on Gallery Tbilisi shopping centre in Tbilisi in December 2023 and January 2024 had also been linked to international online games that the SSS claimed involved minors from various countries, including Georgia.
The initiators of the fake notifications have been identified as a specific group of individuals abroad, prompting the implementation of appropriate special measures, the agency added.
The United States Department of State's 2021 Country Report on Terrorism on Tuesday said Georgia had continued its “robust engagement” on counterterrorism issues throughout that year and remained a “strong” security partner for the United States.
The current counter-terrorist situation in the world, the wider region and Georgia was discussed on Sunday in a meeting of the Inter-agency Standing Commission for Developing and Monitoring Implementation of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Combating Terrorism.
The importance of strategic partnership and “strong security cooperation” between Georgia and the United Kingdom was reviewed on Friday in a meeting between Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the State Security Service of Georgia, and Mark Clayton, the British Ambassador to the country.
Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the Georgian State Security Service, on Thursday said the Service's efforts and the implemented measures “have significantly reduced the number of possible supporters of terrorism” in Georgia.
Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Tbilisi Mayor, on Monday commented on the statement of the State Security Service that said “false reports” originating abroad had been made on potential presence of explosives at several locations in the country's western city of Batumi, by alleging an “attempt to sow alarm among the public”.