If your organization is targeted with a bomb threat it will undoubtedly be troubling. You will feel victimized and your sense of well-being will be compromised. You’ll fear for your safety and hope the threat’s a hoax.
And by a very large margin, that’s the likelihood, because it’s very rare in the U.S. for an explosive device to be found in conjunction with an explicit bomb threat. Many hundreds of these threats are reported to law enforcement every year – even thousands – but only a small handful of devices have been associated with these types of threats over the last few decades.
That’s valuable information because it can help you keep things in perspective while you and your organization respond to a threat. Remembering how rare bombs actually are in these circumstances should help you stay calm through the process to resolution, especially if your organization has strong security measures and sensible and familiar emergency response plans. By no means should any threat be ignored or dismissed, but neither should it lead to panic.
But if bomb threats rarely amount to anything, why do people make them?
The five most common reasons appear to be:
- Entertainment
- Revenge/terror
- Robbery/extortion
- Service interruption
- Mental illness or breakdown
It’s hard to believe that people can be so bored (and malicious and foolish) that they commit a disturbing felony just for the fun of it. But they do. They communicate the threat, grab a snack, and sit back and watch what happens. This appears to be a common motivation, often for young people threatening a school or entire district. “Swatting-type” bomb threats could be included here also, when the caller’s motivation is mainly to enjoy watching events unfold.
Another prevalent reason is tied to extreme anger, frustration, or hatred on the part of the person making the threat. Their medical bill is outrageous or they’re mad at the IRS so they lash out to avenge this perceived wrong. These threats are often delivered spontaneously over the phone or in person in the midst of a conflict. Terror group threats can be included here as well, because of their use of threats of bombings to cause widespread fear in targeted societies. Swatting incidents might fit here, too, when the caller’s main goal is to get back at someone.
Thirdly, it’s not uncommon for banks or pharmacies to be robbed by a person who claims to have a bomb with them. They may even display a “device” and often leave it behind if they do. Using an object (backpack, briefcase, bag, etc.) in this manner is a BIG DEAL and must lead to distancing and shielding from the object as soon as possible. Any time a questionable item is used in conjunction with a bomb threat or even found later during an investigation, it must be treated with the utmost respect and addressed by a bomb squad. In addition, terror groups and others have been known to use threats of bombings against multiple institutions at the same time, with the goal of extorting money from them – often payable only in cryptocurrencies. These types of widespread threats often lack credibility, such as the hundreds made to businesses and schools on Dec. 13, 2018 or the claim of 160 hidden remotely-controlled nukes in March of 2011.
Another reason for issuing a bomb threat is to interrupt service at a school or business, etc. for some type of personal gain. A student is not prepared for a test and wants to shut down his school or a drunk wants to prompt a liquor store evacuation for easy access to their shelves (Orange County, California Jan. 5, 2018). Fans of Seinfeld will remember George resorting to this approach in the episode called “The Nap.”
Finally, some threats are only explained by mental illness or some type of personal breakdown.
Threat motivations can be complex and may overlap, but they often fall into one of these five categories. If you follow the news, watch for stories of threats and see if this generalization bears out. There are other, less common reasons for making threats, but they are best addressed in a professional training environment.
Suffice it to say in conclusion that all bomb threats must be assessed, reported, and investigated – never dismissed or ignored. But in the process, keep things in perspective and follow the direction of your trusted security managers. You’ll probably be just fine in the end.
