Detach and place by each telephone. Duplicate as necessary.

ATF BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST

Exact time of call

Exact words of caller

QUESTIONS TO ASK

1. When is bomb going to explode?

2. Where is the bomb?

3. What does it look like?

4. What kind of bomb is it?

5. What will cause it to explode?

6. Did you place the bomb?

7. Why?

8. Where are you calling from?

9. What is your address?

10. What is your name?

CALLER’S VOICE (circle)

Calm Disguised Nasal Angry
Stutter Slow Sincere Lisp
Giggling Deep Crying Squeaky
Stressed Accent Loud Slurred

If voice is familiar, whom did it sound like?

Broken
Rapid

Excited
Normal

Were there any background noises?

Remarks:

Person receiving call:

Telephone number call received at:

Date:

Report cali immediately to:

(Refer to bomb incident plan)


Bomb Incident Plan

12.

. Designate a chain of command.
. Establish a command center.

. Decide what primary and alternate

communications will be used.

. Establish clearly how and by

whom a bomb threat will be

evaluated.

. Decide what procedures will be

followed when a bomb threat is
received or device discovered.

. Determine to what extent the

available bomb squad will assist
and at what point the squad will
respond.

. Provide an evacuation plan with

enough flexibility to avoid a
suspected danger area.

. Designate search teams.
. Designate areas to be searched.

. Establish techniques to be utiliz-

ed during search.

. Establish a procedure to report

and track progress of the search
and a method to lead qualified
bomb technicians to a suspicious
package.

Have a contingency plan available
if a bomb should go off.

13.

14,

Establish a simple-to-follow pro-
cedure for the person receiving
the bomb threat.

Review your physical security plan
in conjunction with the develop-
ment of your bomb incident plan.

Command Center

1.

Designate a primary location and
an alternate location.

. Assign personnel and designate

decisionmaking authority.

. Establish a method for tracking

search teams.

. Maintain a list of likely target

areas.

. Maintain a blueprint of floor dia-

grams in the center.

. Establish primary and secondary

methods of communication.
(Caution—the use of two-way
radios during a search can cause
premature detonation of an elec-
tric blasting cap.)

. Formulate a plan for establishing

a command center, if a threat is
received after normal work hours.

. Maintain a roster of all necessary

telephone numbers.


How to Prepare

In preparing to cope with a bomb inci-
dent, it is necessary to develop two
separate but interdependent plans,
namely a physical security plan and a
bomb incident plan.

Physical security provides for the pro-
tection of property, personnel,
facilities, and material against
unauthorized entry, trespass, damage,
sabotage, or other illegal or criminal
acts. The physical security plan deals
with prevention and control of access
to the building. In most instances,
some form of physical security may be
already in existence, although not
necessarily intended to prevent a
bomb attack.

The bomb incident plan provides
detailed procedures to be im-
plemented when a bombing attack is
executed or threatened. In planning for
the bomb incident, a definite chain of
command or line of authority must be
established. Only by using an
established organization and pro-
cedures can the bomb incident be
handled with the least risk to all con-
cerned. A clearly defined line of
authority will instill confidence and
avoid panic.

Establishing a chain of command is
easy if there is a simple office struc-
ture, one business, one building.
However, if a complex situation exists,
a multi-occupant building for example,
a representative from each occupant
entity should attend the planning con-
ference. A leader should be appointed
and a clear line of succession
delineated. This chain of command
should be printed and circulated to all
concerned parties.

In planning, you should designate a
command center to be located in the
switchboard room or other focal point
of telephone or radio communications.
The management personnel assigned
to operate the center should have the
authority to decide whatever action
should be taken during the threat. Only
those with assigned dutiés should be
permitted in the center. Make some
provision for alternates in the event
someone is absent when a threat is
received. Obtain an updated blueprint
or floor plan of your building and main-
tain it in the command center.

Contact the police department, fire
department, or local government agen-
cies to determine if any assistance is
available to you for developing your
physical security plan or bomb incident
plan. If possible, have police and/or fire
department representatives and mem-
bers of your staff inspect the building
for areas where explosives are likely
to be concealed. (Make a checklist of
these areas for inclusion in command
center materials.) Determine whether
there is a bomb disposal unit available,
how to contact the unit, and under
what conditions it is activated. In
developing your bomb incident plan,
you must also ascertain whether the
bomb disposal unit, in addition to dis-
arming and removing the explosives,
will assist in searching the building in
the event of a threat.

Training is essential to deal properly
with a bomb threat incident. Instruct all
personnel, especially those at the
telephone switchboard, in what to do
if a bomb threat is received. Be
absolutely certain that all personnel
assigned to the command center are
aware of their duties. The positive
aspects of planning will be lost if the
leadership is not apparent. It is also


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STREET

#4 SEARCH INTERNAL PUBLIC AREAS



Evacuation

An evacuation unit consisting of
management personnel should be
organized and trained. The organiza-
tion and training of this unit should be
coordinated with the development of
the bomb incident plan, as well as with
all tenants of a building.

The evacuation unit should be trained
in how to evacuate the building during
a bomb threat. You should consider
priority of evacuation, e.g., evacuation
by floor level. Evacuate the floor levels
above and below the danger area in
order to remove those persons from
danger as quickly as possible. Train-
ing in this type of evacuation is usually
available from police, fire or other units
within the community.

You may also train the evacuation unit
in search techniques, or you may
prefer a separate search unit. Volun-
teer personnel should be solicited for
this function. Assignment of search
wardens, team leaders, etc., can be
employed. To be proficient in search-
ing the building, search personnel
must be thoroughly familiar with all
hallways, rest rooms, false ceiling
areas, and every location in the
building where an explosive or incen-
diary device may be concealed. When
police officers or firefighters arrive at
the building, the contents and the floor
plan will be unfamiliar to them if they
have not previously reconnoitered the
facility. Thus, it is extremely important
that the evacuation or search unit be
thoroughly trained and familiar with the
floor plan of the building and im-
mediate outside areas. When a room
or particular area is searched, it should
be marked or sealed with a piece of
tape and reported to the supervisor of
that area.

The evacuation or search unit should
be trained only in evacuation and
search techniques and not in the
techniques of neutralizing, removing or
otherwise having contact with the
device. If a device is located, it should
not be disturbed. However, its location
should be well marked and a route
back to the device noted.

Search Teams

It is advisable to use more than one in-
dividual to search any area or room, no
matter how small. Searches can be
conducted by supervisory personnel,
area occupants or trained explosive
search teams. There are advantages
and disadvantages to each method of
staffing the search teams.

Using supervisory personnel to search
is a rapid approach and causes little
disturbance. There will be little loss of
employee working time, but a morale
problem may develop if it is discovered
that a bomb threat has been received
and workers were left unaware. Using
a supervisor to search will usually not
be as thorough because of his/her un-
familiarity with many areas and his/her
desire to get on with business.

Using area occupants to search their
own areas is the best method for a
rapid search. The occupants’ concern
for their own safety will contribute
toward a more thorough search. Fur-
thermore, the personnel conducting
the search are familiar with what does
or does not belong in a particular area.
Using occupants to search will result
in a shorter loss of worktime than if all
were evacuated prior to search by
trained teams. Using the occupants to
search can have a positive effect on
morale, given a good training program
to develop confidence. Of course, this


installation of closed-circuit television
cameras that cover exterior building
perimeters.

Have an adequate burglar alarm
system installed by a reputable com-
pany that can service and properly
maintain the equipment. Post signs
indicating that such a system is in
place.

Entrance/exit doors with hinges and
hinge pins on the inside to prevent
removal should be installed. Solid
wood or sheet metal faced doors pro-
vide extra integrity that a hollow-core
wooden door cannot provide. A steel
door frame that properly fits the door
is as important as the construction of
the door.

The ideal security situation is a
building with no windows. However,
bars, grates, heavy mesh screens, or
steel shutters over windows offer good
protection from otherwise unwanted
entry. It is important that the openings
in the protective coverings are not too
large. Otherwise, a bomb may be
introduced into the building while the
bomber remains outside. Floor vents,
transoms, and skylights should also be
covered. Please note that fire safety
considerations preclude the use of cer-
tain window coverings. Municipal
ordinances should be researched and
safety considered before any of these
renovations are undertaken.

Controls should be established for
positively identifying personnel who
are authorized access to critical areas
and for denying access to unauthor-
ized personnel. These controls should
extend to the inspection of all
packages and materials being taken
into critical areas.

Security and maintenance personnel
should be alert for people who act in
a suspicious manner, as well as
objects, items, or parcels which look
out of place or suspicious. Surveillance
should be established to include
potential hiding places (e.g., stairwells,
rest rooms, and any vacant office
space) for unwanted individuals.

Doors or access ways to such areas as
boiler rooms, mail rooms, computer
areas, switchboards, and elevator con-
trol rooms should remain locked when
not in use. It is important to establish
a procedure for the accountability of
keys. If keys cannot be accounted for,
locks should be changed.

Good housekeeping is also vital. Trash
or dumpster areas should remain free
of debris. A bomb or device can easily
be concealed in the trash. Combusti-
ble materials should be properly
disposed of, or protected if further use
is anticipated.

Install detection devices at all
entrances and closed-circuit television
in those areas previously identified as
likely places where a bomb may be
placed. This, coupled with the posting
of signs indicating such measures are
in place, is a good deterrent.

We in ATF recognize the necessity for
businesses to maintain good public
relations. Corporate responsibility,
however, also encompasses the safety
and protection of the public. The
threatened use of explosives neces-
sitates that in the interest of safety and
security, some inconvenience may
have to be imposed on visitors to
public buildings. The public is becom-
ing more accustomed to routine secur-
ity checks and will readily accept these
minor inconveniences.


very important to organize and train an
evacuation unit which will be respon-
sive to the command center and has
a clear understanding of the impor-
tance of its role.

We have suggested that the command
center be located near the switchboard
or focal point of communications. It is
critical that lines of communication be
established between the command
center and the search or evacuation
teams. The center must have the flex-
ibility to keep up with the search team
progress. In a large facility, if the teams
go beyond the communications net-
work, the command center must have
the mobility to maintain contact and
track search or evacuation efforts.

Security Against
Bomb Incidents

We mentioned earlier that, in dealing
with bomb incidents or potential bomb
incidents, two interrelated plans must
be developed, the bomb incident plan
and the physical security plan. Here-
tofore, we have primarily addressed
the bomb incident plan. Now, before
continuing with that plan, we will
discuss security measures as they
apply to “hardening’’ against the
bomb attack.

Most commercial structures and
individual residences already have
some security in place, planned or
unplanned, realized or not. Locks on
windows and doors, outside lights,
etc., are all designed and installed to
contribute toward the security of a
facility and the protection of its
occupants.

In considering measures to increase
security for your building or office, it

is highly recommended that you con-
tact your local police department for
guidance regarding a specific plan for
your facility. There is no single secu-
rity plan that is adaptable to all situa-
tions. The following recommendations
are offered because they may contri-
bute to reducing your vulnerability to
bomb attacks.

The exterior configuration of a building
or facility is very important. Unfor-
tunately, in most instances, the archi-
tect has given little or no consideration
to security, particularly toward thwart-
ing or discouraging a bomb attack.
However, by the addition of fencing
and lighting, and by controlling access,
the vulnerability of a facility to a bomb
attack can be reduced significantly.

Bombs being delivered by car or left
in a car are a grave reality. Parking
should be restricted, if possible, to 300
feet from your building or any building
in a complex. If restricted parking is not
feasible, properly identified employee
vehicles should be parked closest to
your facility and visitor vehicles parked
at a distance.

Heavy shrubs and vines should be
kept close to the ground to reduce their
potential to conceal criminals or
bombs. Window boxes and planters
are perfect receptacles for the bomber.
Unless there is an absolute require-
ment for such ornamentation, window
boxes and planters are better re-
moved. If they must remain, a security
patrol should be employed to check
them regularly.

A highly visible security patrol can be
a significant deterrent. Even if this
“patrol’’ is only one security
guard/night guard, he/she is optimally
utilized outside the building. If an
interior guard is utilized, consider the


#5 SEARCH OUTSIDE AREAS


— Remain available, as law en-
forcement personnel will want to
interview you.

When a written threat is received, save
all materials, including any envelope or
container. Once the message is recog-
nized as a bomb threat, further
unnecessary handling should be
avoided. Every possible effort must be
made to retain evidence such as
fingerprints, handwriting or type-
writing, 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 warn-
ing of a specific device may occa-
sionally 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
the building. In many cases, this
decision may have already been made
during the development of the bomb
incident plan. Management may pro-
nounce a carte blanche policy that, in
the event of a bomb threat, total
evacuation will be effective immedi-
ately. This decision circumvents the
calculated risk and demonstrates a
deep concern for the safety of person-
nel in the building. 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.

2. Evacuate immediately.

3. Search and evacuate if
warranted.

Ignoring the threat completely can
result in some problems. While a
statistical argument can be made that
very few bomb threats are real, it can-
not 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 prob-
lems and have a long-term adverse
effect on your business. Also, there is
the possibility that if the bomb threat
caller feels that he/she is being
ignored, he/she may go beyond the
threat and actually plant a bomb.

Evacuating immediately on every
bomb threat is an alternative that on
face value appears to be the preferred
approach. However, the negative fac-
tors inherent in this approach must be
considered. The obvious result of
immediate evacuation is the disruptive
effect on your business. If the bomb
threat caller knows that your policy is
to evacuate each time a call is made,
he/she can continually call and force
your business 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 stu-
dent may use a bomb threat to avoid
a class or miss a test. Also, a bomber
wishing to cause personal injuries
could place a bomb near an exit nor-
mally 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 same time avoiding the potential
danger areas of the bomb.


Physical
Security Planning

DEPARTMENT of the TREASURY Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fircarms
ATF P 7550.2 (7/87)



After the room has been divided and
a searching height has been
selected, both individuals go to one
end of the room division line and
start from a back-to-back position.
This is the starting point, and the
same point will be used on each suc-
cessive searching sweep. Each per-
son now starts searching his/her
way around the room, working
toward the other person, checking
all items resting on the floor around
the wall area of the room. When the
two individuals meet, they will have
completed a ‘“‘wall sweep.” They
should then work together and
check all items in the middle of the
room up to the selected hip height,
including the floor under the rugs.
This first searching sweep should
also include those items which may
be mounted on or in the walls, such
as air-conditioning ducts, baseboard
heaters, and built-in wall cupboards,
if these fixtures are below hip height.

The first searching sweep usually
consumes the most time and effort.
During all the searching sweeps,
use the electronic or medical stetho-
scope on walls, furniture items, and
floors.

Second Room-Searching
Sweep

The individual in charge again looks
at the furniture or objects in the room
and determines the height of the
second searching sweep. This
height is usually from the hip to the
chin or top of the head. The two per-
sons return to the starting point and
repeat the searching technique at
the second selected searching
height. This sweep usually covers
pictures hanging on the walls, built-
in bookcases, and tall table lamps.

Third Room-Searching Sweep

When the second searching sweep
is completed, the person in charge
again determines the next searching
height, usually from the chin or the
top of the head up to the ceiling. The
third sweep is then made. This
sweep usually covers high mounted
air-conditioning ducts and hanging
light fixtures.

Fourth Room-Searching Sweep

If the room has a false or suspended
ceiling, the fourth sweep involves in-
vestigation of this area. Check flush
or ceiling-mounted light fixtures, air-
conditioning or ventilation ducts,
sound or speaker systems, electrical
wiring, and structural frame
members.

Have a sign or marker indicating
“Search Completed” conspicuously
posted in the area. Place a piece of
colored Scotch tape across the door
and door jamb approximately 2 feet
above floor level if the use of signs
is not practical.

The room searching technique can be
expanded. The same basic technique
can be applied to search any enclosed
area. Encourage the use of common
sense or logic in searching. If a guest
speaker at a convention has been
threatened, common sense would in-
dicate searching the speakers platform
and microphones first, but always
return to the searching technique. Do
not rely on random or spot checking of
only logical target areas. The bomber
may not be a logical person.

In conclusion, the following steps
should be taken in order to search a
room:


would require the training of an entire
work force, and ideally the perfor-
mance of several practical training
exercises. One drawback of this
search method is the increased danger
to unevacuated workers.

The search conducted by a trained
team is the best for safety, morale and
thoroughness, though it does take the
most time. Using a trained team will
result in a significant loss of production
time. It is a slow operation that requires
comprehensive training and practice.

The decision as to who should conduct
searches lies with management, and
should be considered and incor-
porated into the bomb incident plan.

Search Technique

The following room search technique
is based on the use of a two-person
searching team. There are many minor
variations possible in searching a
room. The following contains only the
basic techniques.

When the two-person search team
enters the room to be searched, they
should first move to various parts of
the room and stand quietly with their
eyes closed and listen for a
clockwork device. Frequently, a
clockwork mechanism can be
quickly detected without use of
special equipment. Even if no
clockwork mechanism is detected,
the team is now aware of the
background noise level within the
room itself.

Background noise or transferred
sound is always disturbing during a
building search. If a ticking sound is
heard but cannot be located, one
might become unnerved. The ticking

sound may come from an unbal-
anced air-conditioner fan several
floors away or from a dripping sink
down the hall. Sound will transfer
through air-conditioning ducts, along
water pipes,and through walls. One
of the most difficult buildings to
search is one that has steam or hot
water heat. This type of building will
constantly thump, crack, chatter,
and tick due to the movement of the
steam or hot water through the pipes
and the expansion and contraction
of the pipes. Background noise may
also include outside traffic sounds,
rain, and wind.

The individual in charge of the room
searching team should look around
the room and determine how the
room is to be divided for searching
and to what height the first search-
ing sweep should extend. The first
searching sweep will cover all items
resting on the floor up to the
selected height.

You should divide the room into two
virtually equal parts. This equal divi-
sion should be based on the number
and type of objects in the room to be
searched and not on the size of the
room. An imaginary line is then
drawn between two objects in the
room; e.g., the edge of the window
‘on the north wall to the floor lamp on
the south wall.

First Room-Searching Sweep

Look at the furniture or objects in the
room and determine the average
height of the majority of items
resting on the floor. In an average
room, this height usually includes
table or desk tops and chair backs.
The first searching height usually
covers the items in the room up to
hip height.


Perhaps entrances and exits can be
modified with a minimal expenditure to
channel all visitors through someone
at a reception desk. Individuals enter-
ing the building would be required to
sign a register indicating the name and
room number of the person whom they
wish to visit. Employees at these
reception desks could contact the per-
son to be visited and advise him/her
that a visitor, by name, is in the lobby.
The person to be visited may decide
to come to the lobby to ascertain that
the purpose of the visit is valid. A
system for signing out when the in-
dividual departs could be integrated
into this procedure.

Such a procedure may result in com-
plaints from the public. If the reception
desk clerk explains to the visitor that
these procedures were implemented in
his/her best interest and safety, the
complaints would be reduced. The
placement of a sign at the reception
desk informing visitors of the need for
safety is another option.

Responding to Bomb
Threats

Instruct all personnel, especially those
at the telephone switchboard, in what
to do if a bomb threat call is received.

it is always desirable that more than
one person listen in on the call. To do
this, a covert signaling system should
be implemented, perhaps by using a
coded buzzer signal to a second
reception point.

A calm response to the bomb threat
caller could result in obtaining addi-
tional 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, components, or
method of initiation.

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. Record
every word spoken by the
person.

— Ifthe caller does not indicate the
location of the bomb or the time
of possible 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, ex-
cited), accents, and speech
impediments. Immediately after
the caller hangs up, report the
threat to the person designated
by management to receive such
information.

— Report the information imme-
diately to the police department,
fire department, ATF, FBI, and
other appropriate agencies. The
sequence of notification should
be established in the bomb inci-
dent plan.


Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Washington, DC 20226

Official Business
Penalty for Private Use, $300



Bombs

Bombs can be constructed to look like
almost anything and can be placed or
delivered in any number of ways. The
probability of finding a bomb that looks
like the stereotypical bomb is almost
nonexistent. The only common
denominator that exists among bombs
is that they are designed or intended
to explode.

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

Bomb Threats

Bomb threats are delivered in a vari-
ety 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 in-
cendiary bomb has been or will be
placed and he/she wants to mini-
mize personal injury or property
damage. The caller may be the per-
son who placed the device or
someone who has become aware
of such information.

2. The caller wants to create an at-
mosphere of anxiety and panic
which will, in turn, result in a disrup-
tion of the normal activities at the

facility where the device is pur-
portedly 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.

Why Prepare?

If you accept the two aforementioned
explanations for reporting that a bomb
is about to go off, you can better
prepare to foil the bomber or threat
maker.

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,
reinforce the notion that those in
charge do care, and reduce the poten-
tial 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 ter-
ror. Once a state of panic has been
reached, the potential for injury and
property damage is greatly increased.
In the context of a bomb threat, panic
is the ultimate achievement of the
caller.

Be prepared! There is no excuse for
not taking every step necessary to
meet the threat.


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#1 ROOM SEARCH-STOP, LISTEN





Foreword

Bombing and the threat of being bombed are harsh realities in today’s world.
The public is becoming more aware of those 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 pro-
tection for life and property, but law enforcement alone cannot be held respon-
sible. Every citizen must do his or her part to ensure a safe environment.

This pamphlet is designed to help both the public and private sectors prepare
for the potential threat of explosives-related violence. While the ideas set forth
herein are applicable in most cases, they are intended only as a guide. The
information provided is compiled from a wide range of sources, including the
actual experiences of special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms (ATF).

If there is one point that cannot be overemphasized, it is the value of being
prepared. Do not allow a bomb incident to catch you by surprise. By develop-
ing 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.

In making this pamphlet available to you, we hope to help you better prepare
to deal with bomb threats and the illegal use of explosives.


For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office
Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP. Washington, DC 20402-9328

ISBN 0-16-042700-2


1. Divide the area and select a
search height.
2. Start from the bottom and work

up.

3. Start back-to-back and work
toward each other.

4. Go around the walls and proceed
toward the center of the room.

Suspicious Object
Located

Itis imperative that personnel involved
in a search be instructed that their only
mission is to search for and report
suspicious objects. Under no cir-
cumstances should anyone move, jar
or touch a suspicious object or any-
thing attached to it. The removal or
disarming of a bomb must be left to the
professionals in explosive ordnance
disposal. When a suspicious object is
discovered, the following procedures
are recommended:

1. Report the location and an ac-
curate description of the object to
the appropriate warden. This in-
formation should be relayed im-
mediately to the command
center, which will notify the police
and fire departments, and rescue
squad. These officers should be
met and escorted to the scene.

2. If absolutely necessary, place
sandbags or mattresses, never
metal shields, around the sus-
picious object. Do not attempt to
cover the object.

3. Identify the danger area, and
block it off with a clear zone of at
least 300 feet, including floors
below and above the object.

4. Check to see that all doors and
windows are open to minimize
primary damage from blast and
secondary damage _ from
fragmentation.

5. Evacuate the building.

6. Do not permit re-entry into the
building until the device has been
removed/disarmed, and the
building declared safe for
re-entry.

Handling of the
News Media

It is of paramount importance that all
inquiries from the news media be
directed to one individual appointed as
spokesperson. All other persons
should be instructed not to discuss the
situation with outsiders, especially the
news media.

The purpose of this provision is to fur-
nish the news media with accurate in-
formation and to see that additional
bomb threat calls are not precipitated
by irresponsible statements from unin-
formed sources.

Summary

This pamphlet serves only as a guide
and is not intended to be anything
more. The ultimate determination of
how to handle a bomb threat must be
made by the individual responsible for
the threatened facility.

Develop a bomb incident plan. Draw
upon any expertise that is available to
you from police departments, govern-
ment agencies, and security
specialists. Don’t leave anything to
chance. Be prepared!


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