According to a Jakarta Post report, police tracked the initial threat call to a number belonging to a Malaysian.

“We identified the number, which belongs to a Malaysian. Now, we are hunting the perpetrator,” said Deli Serdang police chief Robert Da Costa.

Da Costa however refused to reveal the identity of the alleged perpetrator or to connect the person to any terrorist group.

In the Wednesday incident, a bank receptionist in the departure terminal received a call saying that a bomb had been placed at the BRI Lounge at the terminal and would explode at 11.30am Indonesian time.

The caller claimed to have planted the bomb after being paid Rp3 million (RM990).

The bomb hoax did not disrupt airport activities that day but placed officers and airport authorities on high alert.

Police are working with Malaysian authorities to track down the perpetrator.

North Sumatra police spokesperson Rina Sari Ginting said officers were still collecting evidence on the case.

“Several people have communicated with the perpetrator in Medan,” she said.

This is the first bomb threat since the airport opened in 2013.