Bomb Threats

The following information is excerpted from a pamphlet entitled Bomb Threats and Physical Security Planning published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF).

Bombing and the threat of being bombed are harsh realities in today's world. The public is becoming more aware of these incidents of violence that are perpetrated by vicious, nefarious segments of our society through the illegal use of explosives. Law enforcement agencies are charged with providing protection for life and property, but law enforcement alone cannot be held responsible. Every citizen must do his or her part to ensure a safe environment.

Bomb threats are delivered in a variety of ways. The majority of threats are called in to the target. Occasionally these calls are through a third party. Sometimes a threat is communicated in writing or by a recording.

Two logical explanations for reporting a bomb threat are:

1. the caller has definite knowledge or believes that an explosive or incendiary bomb has been (or will be) placed and s/he wants to minimize personal injury or property damage. The caller may be the person who has placed the device or someone who has become aware of such information.

2. the caller wants to create an atmosphere of anxiety and panic which will, in turn, result in a disruption of the normal activities at the facility where the device is purportedly placed.

Whatever the reason for the report, there will certainly be a reaction to it. Through proper planning, the wide variety of potentially uncontrollable reactions can be greatly reduced.

Responding to Bomb Threats

A calm response to the bomb threat caller could result in obtaining additional information. This is especially true if the caller wishes to avoid injuries or deaths. If told that the building is occupied or cannot be evacuated in time, the bomber may be willing to give more specific information on the bomb's location, composition, or how it is triggered.

The bomb threat caller is the best source of information about the bomb. When a bomb threat is called in:

Keep the caller on the line as long as possible. Ask him/her to repeat the message. Write down every word spoken by the person.

If the caller does not indicate the location of the bomb or time of detonation, ask him/her for this information.

Inform the caller that the building is occupied and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to many innocent people.

Pay particular attention to background noises, such as motors running, music playing, and any other noise which may give a clue as to the location of the caller.

Listen closely to the voice (male, female), voice quality (calm, excited), accents, and speech impediments. Immediately after the caller hangs up, report the threat to your supervisor and the KSU Police at extension 6666.

Remain available, as law enforcement personnel will want to interview you.

View the BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST. PLEASE PRINT FOR QUICK REFERRAL.

When a written threat is received, save all materials, including any envelope or container. Once the message is recognized as a bomb threat, further unnecessary handling should be avoided. Every possible effort must be made to retain evidence such as fingerprints, handwriting or typewriting, paper and postal marks. These will prove essential in tracing the threat and identifying the writer.

While written messages are usually associated with generalized threats and extortion attempts, a written warning of a specific device may occasionally be received. It should never be ignored.

Decision Time

The most serious of all decisions to be made by management in the event of a bomb threat is whether to evacuate a given building or area. In many cases, this decision may already have been made during the development of the bomb incident plan. Management may pronounce a carte blanch policy that, in the event of a bomb threat, total evacuation will be effective immediately. This decision circumvents the calculated risk and demonstrates a deep concern for the safety of personnel in the building or area. However, such a decision can result in costly loss of time.

Essentially, there are three alternatives when faced with a bomb threat:

1. Ignore the threat (or mount a minimal response).
2. Evacuate immediately.
3. Search and evacuate if warranted.

Ignoring the threat can result in some problems. While a statistical argument can be made that most bomb threats are hoaxes, it cannot be overlooked that bombs have been located in connection with threats. If employees learn that bomb threats have been received and ignored, it could result in morale problems and have a long-term adverse effect on operations. Also, there is the possibility that if the bomb threat caller feels that s/he is being ignored, s/he may go beyond the threat and actually plant a bomb.

Evacuating immediately upon every bomb threat is an alternative that, at face value, appears to be the preferred approach. However, the negative factors inherent in this approach must be considered. The obvious result of immediate evacuation is the disruptive effect on your organization. If the bomb threat caller knows that your policy is to evacuate each time a call is made, s/he can continually call and bring your operations to a standstill. An employee, knowing that the policy is to evacuate immediately, may make a threat in order to get out of work. A student may use a bomb threat to avoid a class or miss a test. Perhaps, more insidiously, a bomber wishing to cause personal injuries could place a bomb near an exit normally used to evacuate and then call in the threat.

Initiating a search after a threat is received and evacuating a building after a suspicious package or device is found is the third, and perhaps most desired, approach. It is certainly not as disruptive as an immediate evacuation and will satisfy the requirement to do something when a threat is received. If a device is found, the evacuation can be accomplished expeditiously while, at the sme time, avoiding potential danger areas.

Suspicious Object Located

It is imperative that personnel involved in a search be instructed that their only mission is to search for and report suspicious objects. Under no circumstances should anyone move, jar or touch a suspicous object or anything attached to it. The removal or disarming of a bomb must be left to bomb disposal technicians. Report all suspicous persons and/or packages to the KSU Police at (770) 423-6666.

Questions and comments may be directed to Captain Kemper Anderson, KSU Police, at (770) 499-3034 or e-mail: kanders1@ksumail.kennesaw.edu.