Bomb Threat Procedures

By Vinton King MBA. PFSO vintonking@yahoo.com

Actions during a threat

Information concerning the presence of a bomb usually will be received by telephone from an anonymous caller or on occasion, by a letter, note or postcard. Generally, it is the intent of the caller to have the building evacuated thereby causing a disruption of normal business as well as unnecessary expenses. However, every bomb threat must be considered as genuine when it is originally received. No bomb threat should be left un-investigated because of the possibility of serious consequence. Because most threats are received by telephone, our telephone operators and security officers / supervisors should be trained in the handling of a bomb threat. They will be better equipped to handle a bomb threat, if they have been alert in advance that they may receive such threats and are given detailed instructions as to the course of action they should follow. Bomb Threat Procedure for Clients facilities: Upon receiving a Bomb threat, the security officer / supervisor or telephone operator should: 1. Engage the caller in as lengthy a conversion as possible 2. Listen for any special background sound around the caller 3. Listen and record to the actual words used by the caller 4. Determine the callers accent, voice pattern and tone. 5. Determine whether the caller is male or female. 6. Determine the building or area where the bomb is located 7. Inform the caller that the building or area is occupied (if so) and that the detonation of a bomb could result in the death or serious injury to many innocent people. 8. Determine the exact location within the building or area 9. Determine the exact time the bomb is set to detonate 10. Determine the bomb type by asking, what type bomb? 11. Determine the reason for planting the bomb 12. Determine what the bomb looks like 13. Call Atlas, Clients Manager(s) 14. Give the information gathered to the first Police Officer, Atlas Management, or Clients Security Personnel on the scene.
Training Notes: Viking Bomb Threats

Please note: A bomb threat evacuation can be opportunity for an unauthorized person (s) to enter the facility, hence the security must be very alert and vigilant to prevent this from happening. The Evacuation This must done in accordance with the Clients Evacuation Procedures and will be authorized by the Clients Security Manager, Office Manager, President. Vice President, the Police or Atlas Management. Evacuation Procedure In the event of a bomb threat special effort must be made to evacuate the suspected danger area or building. Upon confirmation of a threat, the Clients Manager, President, Vice President, Security Manager or Atlas Management as the case may be should immediately take steps to have the area evacuated. 1. Designated personnel should be detailed to remain at strategically safe distance to restrict entry into the area / building. 2. The local police should then be informed and to be provided with all relevant details gathered in the bomb threat procedure. 3. Simultaneously, notify the nearest local hospital, and fire department and request their assistance should there be further developments. 4. Institute a danger zone radially of approximately 300 feet from the suspected building and this zone must be kept clear during the emergency period. 5. Assembly all personnel at designated safety zones and perform a roll call or head count. Its is recommended that the head count be done by the rule of exception that is, determine very quickly, which person or persons is not present. 6. Be sure to avoid assembling personnel at areas that has parked motor vehicles, as the bomb could well have be planted in a recently parked vehicle or one that has been left there for some time. 7. Fuel supplies, gas, compressed air, electricity to the suspected building should be shut off where possible and tagged. 8. All doors and windows should be opened to mitigate, blast and fragmentation effects. The Bomb Search If there is a decision to search the building or area of concern, there are a few points to remember. Generally, the bomber will only have access to the public areas of an office. These areas should be searched first. Generally the search will be carried out by explosives experts provided by the Jamaica Defense Force army or the police. The search parties should look for the following: 1. Freshly painted or plastered walls 2. Pictures or other hanging objects not hanging straight 3. Disturbed dirt in potted plants or potted plants moved 4. Broken cabinets or objects recently moved out of place 5. Torn furniture coverings 6. Ceiling tiles that have been disturbed 7. Doors that have been tampered with 8. Suspicious persons loitering about the area 9. Any attache (brief ) case that are unaccounted for 10. Any object that may be out of place with its surroundings
Training Notes: Viking Bomb Threats

NB. IF ANY ITEM IS FOUND, DO NOT DISTURB IT BUT LEAVE IT FOR THE EXPERTS. DELIVERY AND PLACEMENT OF BOMBS There are numerous avenues open to a thoughtful attacker for the placement or delivery of an explosive or incendiary device. Consider the typical commercial or office structure in which practically no access controls are Imposed during normal business hours. The following are ways to infiltrate a building during normal business hours and by no means exhaust the possibilities: 1. On the person of a worker, visitor, service person, delivery person or a solicitor:

2. In a purse, handbag, attach case, lunch box, brief case, service persons tool kit, school bag, shopping bag, or parcel carried by any of the people described in # 1 above. 3. Via. Us Postal Service, parcel post, air freight, or commercial aircraft or ship.

4. In a truck, automobile, railroad car, motorcycle, or bicycle making a delivery or pick-up, at the building. (The largest and most dangerous explosive threat is from vehicles.) Once inside the structure, it depends on the attackers nerve and knowledge of the premises for placement of the device. In a typical public structure, any of the following locations, many of which are unlocked, insecure and not under surveillance, could be chosen. Washroom and toilets Janitors closets Fire stairs Telephone or electrical panel Receiving platforms Tenant or owner occupied interior spaces Hallways or lobbies Elevators Internal mail conveyors pneumatic tube systems Ventilators and air conditioning shafts or ducts. OTHER PLACES TO LOOK FOR A BOMB o o o o o o In toilet tank Inside stoves, refridgerators and cabinets Waste baskets and disposal cans Inside hallow-base lamps Behind and under sinks and plumbing Inside lockers
Training Notes: Viking Bomb Threats

Training Notes: Viking Bomb Threats