Bomb Threats and Physical Security Planning

This section is designed to help you prepare for the threat of explosives-related violence. While the pointers in this section are broadly applicable, they are intended only as a guide.

The information provided is compiled from a wide range of sources, including the actual experiences of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) officials. It covers basic precautionary measures that individuals, families and businesses can adopt to protect themselves against explosive devices.

One point that cannot be overemphasized: Be Prepared. To the degree possible, do not allow a bomb incident to catch you by surprise. By developing a bomb incident plan and considering possible bomb incidents in your physical security plan, you can reduce the potential for personal injury and property damage.

Bombs

Bombs can be packaged to look like just about anything. They can also be delivered in many different ways. The probability of finding a bomb that looks like the stereotypical bomb is almost nonexistent. Their only common denominator is that all bombs are designed to explode.

Most bombs are homemade and are limited in their design only by the imagination of and resources available to the bomber. When searching for a bomb, suspect anything that looks unusual or out-of-place. Let the trained bomb technician determine what is or is not a bomb.

Bombs are a favorite weapon of terrorists because they can create enormous havoc, can extensively kill and maim, because their component parts (explosive, detonator, timer) are relatively inexpensive and easy to acquire, and because they're fairly simple to assemble and deliver.

Terrorists generally favor surprise bomb attacks with no prior warning but in some circumstances a bomb threat warning will be issued as a way of disrupting the normal course of activities of an organization. Most bomb threats are hoaxes, but all threats should be taken seriously.

Preparation

Through proper preparation, you can reduce the accessibility of your business or building and identify those areas that can be "hardened" against the potential bomber. This will limit the amount of time lost to searching, if you determine a search is necessary.

If a bomb incident occurs, proper planning will instill confidence in the leadership of your organization and reinforce the notion that those in charge are prepared and committed to reducing the potential for personal injury and property loss.

Proper planning can also reduce the threat of panic, the most contagious of all human emotions. Panic is sudden, excessive, unreasoning, infectious terror. Once panic sets in, the potential for injury and property damage is greatly increased. Creating panic is the bomber's objective. If you're not prepared and not taking every possible step necessary to meet the threat, you're helping the bomber achieve his objective.

Preparation for coping with a bomb incident requires developing two separate but interdependent plans for physical security and bomb incidents.