A copycat hoax letter containing harmless white powder was opened Openness by reporter Judith Miller in `` The New York Times '' newsroom .

The Irgun sent Sending warnings Warning by telephone , including one to the hotel 's own switchboard , which , possibly because hoax bomb warnings Warning were rife at the time , the staff decided Deciding to ignore , but none directly to the British authorities .

From the fact that a bomb search Scouring had already been carried out Attack , it appears that a hoax call or tip-off had been received Receiving at the hotel earlier that day .