Bomb Threats

What are the different types of threats?

Threats may come by mail, note, or even be written on property, such as a washroom mirror. New technology and features such as call display may force people to come up with new ways to make their threats, but the most common type of threat is still made by telephone.

Words to Know

To detonate -To cause to explode

Device -Something that has been made for a special purpose

To disrupt -To confuse or upset

To evacuate -To empty

To evaluate -To assess, make a judgement

Hoax, prank -A trick or joke

Obstacles -Things in the way

Prearranged -Set in place before

Residue -Small amount that is leftthreat a chance or promise that something bad is going to happen

Before a Threat

Think about psychological factors

What are people who make bomb threats like?

Why do people make bomb threats?

During a Threat After a Threat

• Fill in a Bomb Threat Checklist

• Evacuate

• Search• Look for suspicious objects

Do not take chances. Never ignore a threat.

What kind of person makes a bomb threat?

There are many kinds of people who make bomb threats. It is impossible to guess what type of person you will have to deal with, but it may help prepare you to think about these examples:

Co-worker / family member – someone who has a problem, usually with one person, and wants to make that person feel responsible for the suffering of many others.

Unhappy customer – someone who feels that they have not received the service they deserve or is not pleased about a product. For example, someone takes a stereo back to a shop, and they are told that there is a no-return policy. They are treated disrespectfully

by the clerk and the supervisor.

Angry employee – someone who feels that their company or organization has treated them unfairly and they want to get back at the management. For example, someone who has been fired, returns with a live grenade and threatens to blow up everyone in the office.

Protester – someone whose political or religious beliefs are different from the organization they are threatening. This person may target a government office, a clinic, a newspaper.

Prankster – someone who is playing a trick or acting on a dare. A student may call a bomb threat in to a school to see if they can get away with it, or to get some time off.

Why do people make bomb threats?

There are many reasons why someone may make a bomb threat. The main reason behind most threats is that making the call gives the person a sense of power.

The caller is probably angry about something, but they lack the courage or the social skills to be public about what they want or need. If they can create a feeling of fear or cause problems with the running of an organization, they have control over others. They

may even hang around watching an evacuation. They like knowing that they are responsible for dislocating so many people.

Another possibility is that the person has information about a dangerous device and does not want others to get hurt or property to be damaged.

What should I do if I receive a threat over the phone?

• Follow your emergency procedures plan – Don’t wait until you receive a threat

to decide what to do. Every site should have an emergency procedure plan. It is your responsibility to know what this plan is and what your role is. If your site doesn’t have such a plan, you should discuss this with management.

• Use a Bomb Threat Checklist – keep a Bomb Threat Checklist near the

telephone at all times. You will find a sample of a Bomb Threat Checklist later in

this unit.

• Keep the caller on the line – If a person is making a phone call, the threat is not

immediate. You have some time to react. You want to get as much information as possible from the caller. This will help you identify the bomb and the person making the threat. If you keep the person on the line for a while, it may also give time to trace the call.

• Be calm – The person calling may be excited or upset. If you panic, the person

may get more excited and give you unclear information or hang up.

•

Be polite – Use a professional business manner. Avoid judgemental comments.

The caller will know that you take the call seriously and you will not give them any reason to get more upset.

• Listen carefully – The words a person uses can give you important information

about the bomb. They will also give you clues about the caller. This can help the police later. For example, if the person gives a lot of details about the placement of the bomb, they may be familiar with the site, even an employee. Any background noise can help the police find out where the call is coming from.

• Don’t interrupt – No one likes to be interrupted, especially when they are upset.

The caller may have a planned statement. The exact wording of this statement is important.

• Ask questions – Ask the caller to repeat key information to keep them on the line

for as long as possible. When the caller pauses, ask for more information. A

person under stress may respond to even the most obvious questions, such as

“Where are you calling from?” and “What is your name?”

• Take notes – Write down everything you can. If you are very familiar with a

checklist it will help you save time recording important information. Practice

before you have to use it!

• Get help – if you are not working alone, try to get a second person involved. You

should have a prearranged signal to let your partner or the on-site authority know

that it is an emergency call. They could call the police to begin a trace while you

are still on the line.

• Notify the police – as soon as you hang up, call the police if someone else has notalready done so.

Bomb Threat Checklist Glossary

To use the Bomb Threat Checklist you will need to understand the meaning of the

following words.

Abusive -using angry language or threats

Accent -a way of speaking that is typical of a certain area or group of people

Background noise -the sounds you hear besides the caller’s voice

To disguise -to make your voice sound different

High pitched -the opposite of a low or deep voice

Incoherent -not understandable, confused

lisp -a speech problem where someone uses a “th” sound for an “s”  sound

Muffled -made quieter and less easy to hear

Nasal -sounds like they are speaking through their nose

Raspy -sounds like they are losing their voice or have a sore throat

Slurred -not clear, like someone who has been drinking or using drugs

Stutter -a speech problem where someone repeats the same soundvulgar using swear words

Bomb Threat Checklist

Be calm. Be courteous. Listen carefully. Don’t interrupt.

Date: ____________________ Time: __________ Length of Call: _________________

Exact words of threat:

____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Questions to ask:

1. Are you sure you are calling the right

building?

6. What does it look like?

7. What sort of explosives were used?

2. When will the bomb go off? 8. How powerful is the bomb?

3. Where is it? 9. How was it placed?

4. What floor? 10. What is the reason for the bomb?

5. What side of the building? 11. What is your name?

Caller information:

Sex: _____ Estimated age: __________ Accent: (describe) _______________________

Voice Speech Manner

_ loud _ fast _ angry

_ soft _ slow _ calm

_ high pitched _ clear _ emotional

_ deep _ distorted / disguised _ crying

_ raspy _ muffled _ laughing

_ nasal _ slurred _ abusive / vulgar

_ familiar (details) ____________ _ stutter _ intoxicated

__________________________ _ lisp

_ incoherent

Background sounds Call display number?

_______________________

_ street noises

_ voices

_ motor vehicles

Receiver information

_ planes / trains

_ music / party Call taken by: _______________ Ph: ___________

_ recorded message

_ static Reported to: _______________________________

_ animals

_ equipment ________________ Action taken: ______________________________

What if I receive a written bomb threat?

Save all materials, including any envelopes, folders or containers that the message came

in. Touch them as little as possible and place them in a clean plastic bag. Fingerprints,

powder from explosives, typing or handwriting, and postal marks may give police

important information about the sender.

What is my responsibility after I receive a threat?

You must give as much information as possible to management and police so that they

can decide whether or not to evacuate the site. It is

not your responsibility to make this

decision.

What if the authorities decide to evacuate the site

immediately?

It is your responsibility to

• Control entry into the building.

• Search public areas including entrances, stairways, elevators, washrooms,

hallways, loading docks, parkades and assembly areas outside the building.

• Keep exits and evacuation routes clear.

• Keep people moving quickly and calmly.

• Make sure no one is left behind.

• Assist in a re-entry search before people are allowed back inside.

• Communicate closely with the people in charge.

What if the authorities decide to do a search before

evacuation?

The police and the fire department are not likely to be familiar with the site.

The person named in the emergency plan should head the search. They will tell employees about the threat and have them search their own work areas.

You may assist with this job, but your main responsibility is to make sure all public areas are clear. Do the following:

• Search the outside of the building and evacuation areas.

• Try to have only searched areas between you and the exit. Start on the main floor

and work your way up to the higher floors or down to the lower floors. Try not to have an unsearched area between you and the exit.

• Search public areas of the building first as they are the easiest areas for a bomber

to have access to.

• If you must search a room, listen for any unusual sounds such as clicking,buzzing, ticking or beeping. Your hearing is stronger if you close your eyes.

• Look for objects that are out of place, that don’t belong where they are. This may

include such things as a stack of boxes that is much higher than usual.

• Scan with your eyes: first from floor to waist level, then waist to head level, and

finally from head level to ceiling.

• Pay attention to any place where a device may be hidden, such as rugs, furniture,

drapes, pictures, false ceilings and lighting fixtures, heating and air conditioning

vents.

• Do not disturb anything that could cause an explosive device to blow up.

• Use a note, tape or chalk to show that the area has been searched.

•

Communicate closely with those in charge.

What if I see a suspicious object?

Do not touch it

– Switches, lids, flaps, zippers, buttons and other fastenings may explode when opened or closed. Your job is to report anything that looks out of place or suspicious. T he bomb squad’s job is to investigate more closely.

Do not change the environment

– Too much heat, or light, or other changes may cause the device to explode. If, however, you open or close any doors or windows, or turn any lights on or off, record this information.

Do not use your radio or telephone

– A bomb may be set up so that an electronic device can detonate it. Move at least 150 feet away from a suspected bomb before using any communication device such as a cell phone.

Clear and secure the area. Make sure that no one can get into the area

– Use tape or whatever is available to make it clear that the area is off limits.

Report

– If you find a suspicious object, report it right away to the person named in your  post orders. In your report include

• A complete description of the object.

• The exact location, including if it is close to gas and water lines, or electrical panels.

• Any obstacles in the way.

• Safe access routes.

• The exact time that you found the object.

Remain on alert

– It may not be the only device that was set to explode. Be ready to act when you receive further instructions from the authorities involved.

Do not make statements to the media

– Management or the police have people who are trained to do this. It is not your responsibility.

What does a bomb look like?

Bombs come in many shapes and sizes. They can range from high tech, professional devices to simple, homemade devices. In fact, people can learn how to make a bomb on the Internet and the ingredients can be found in homes and drugstores. Bombs can look like an envelope, pen, telephone, briefcase, shoebox, pipe, or even a gift. No two bombs are alike, but they are all dangerous. Be suspicious of anything unusual.

Letter and Package Bombs

Some bombs arrive through the mail. WARNING: Examine all mail gently. Be aware of these warning clues:

1. Balance and feel –

Letters that feel stiff or unbalanced may include more than paper. It may be thick or heavy. A parcel may make a sloshing or clunking sound.

2. Writing –

It may look disguised. It may be badly written or typed.

3. Place of origin –

Note where the package came from and the name of the sender. Are they familiar? Is the package expected? Has the return address or the sender’s name been omitted? It may be from an unusual place such as a foreign country.

4. Special instructions –

These may include such things as: Personal, Private, Confidential, Only to be opened by , Fragile, Handle with Care, Urgent, Rush, Special Delivery.

5. Name of receiver –

The letter is addressed to a title, such as President, with the name omitted. The receiver’s name is misspelled. This person doesn’t usually receive mail or parcels.

6. Smell –

There is an odour coming from the package. Explosives may smell like almonds.

7. Protruding objects –

There are wires, tinfoil, strings or anything sticking out of the package. There may be small holes made by the removal of wires.

8. Packaging –

It looks like the wrapping has been used before. The paper is wrinkled and has glue, tape or label marks, or writing that has been crossed out. It may be wrapped with lots of tape or string. The shape is irregular. There are soft spots or bulges. There are oily marks on the wrapping. There is excessive postage.

9. Sound – Any sound or noise should make you suspicious.

Thank you