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Explosions and bomb-threat are a harsh
reality in the current times. As the threat
spreads to the life of common man, it
becomes imperative for him to actively
participate in dealing with it. No
organization, including police can do, what
collective responsibility can. Awareness and
preparation are the key words in dealing
with the threat, whether potential or real.
If people at large understand and execute
certain laid down guidelines, they can
greatly reduce the potential of personal
injury, property loss and trauma that
accompanies bomb-threat. Most important of
all, they can help to reduce panic, the most
contagious of all the human reactions and
the ultimate achievement of the person
executing the bomb-threat.
This brochure has been designed to give you
an understanding of the practical steps to
be taken by way of precaution and detailed
procedure to be implemented when a
bomb-threat has been given.
This brochure is divided into two parts:
The Prevention Plan deals with
various steps to be taken for protection of
property, personnel material against
unauthorized entry, trespass, and damage,
thus reducing the vulnerability of your
organization to bomb-attacks.
The Bomb-Threat Plan tells you how to
respond to a bomb-threat, written or verbal,
what to do before the police arrives to your
help and how to help and co-ordinate with
the police.
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..
What is a Bomb?
Bombs are explosive devises. They can be
constructed to look like almost anything and
can be placed or delivered in any number of
ways. (How we wish they all looked like the
ones shown in movies, with fancy switches,
colourful wires and a big watch hanging with
the whole paraphernalia!) The only common
denominator that exists among bombs is that
they are designed to explode.
Most bombs or as we call them IEDs
(Improvised Explosive Devises) are hand made
and are limited in their design only by the
imagination of, and resources available to,
the bomber. Remember, when looking for a
bomb, suspect anything that looks unusual
and out of place. The thumb-rule is, any
thing, unless it belongs to you or you know
(not presume) about, may be a bomb. Simple?
Leave it to the trained bomb technician to
determine whether it is a bomb or not.
The Prevention Plan
Most establishments already have some
planned or unplanned security in place.
Locks on windows and doors, outside lights,
etc., are all designed and installed to
contribute toward the security and the
protection of its occupants. This brochure
is meant to suggest a systematic approach
towards the security planning for your
organization.
In considering measures to increase security
for your building or establishment, it is
highly recommended that you perform a
‘security audit’ for your establishment.
Don’t be intimidated by the word. It merely
involves thinking of the various
opportunities your establishment offers to
some one to come close enough to harm the
occupants, or to plant some explosive device
there. You may consider establishing a task
force involving staff and security personnel
working in your establishment for this
purpose. There are various private
organizations which may help you in this. In
the case of any difficulty or help needed,
please contact the nearest police station.
We shall be happy to help you.
There is no single security plan that is
adaptable to all situations. The following
recommendations are offered because they may
contribute to reducing your vulnerability to
bomb attacks.
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1. |
The exterior configuration of
a building or facility is very
important. Unfortunately, in most
instances, the architect has given
little or no consideration to
security, particularly toward
thwarting 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.
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2. |
Bombs being delivered by car or left
in a car are a grave reality.
Visitors 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.
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3. |
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
requirement for such
ornamentation, window boxes and
planters are better removed. If
they must remain, security personnel
should be briefed to check them
regularly.
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4. |
A highly visible security man
can be a significant deterrent. Even
if this "patrol" is only one
security guard/night guard, he can
be optimally utilized outside the
building. Consider the installation
of closed circuit television cameras
that cover exterior building
perimeters. Have an adequate burglar
alarm system installed. Post signs
indicating that such a system is in
place.
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5. |
Entrance/exit doors may be given a
second glance. Solid wood or sheet
metal faced doors provide extra
integrity that a hollow-core wooden
door cannot provide. Bars, grates,
heavy mesh screens, or steel
shutters over windows offer good
protection from otherwise unwanted
entry. Floor vents, transoms, and
skylights should also be covered.
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6. |
Controls should be established for
positively identifying personnel
who are authorized access to
critical areas. These controls
should extend to the inspection of
all packages and materials being
taken into critical areas.
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7. |
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.
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8. |
Doors or access ways to such areas
as boiler rooms, mail rooms,
computer areas, switchboards, and
elevator control rooms should remain
locked when not in use. It is
important to establish a procedure
for the accountability of keys.
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9. |
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. Combustible materials
should be properly disposed of, or
protected if further use is
anticipated.
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10. |
Entrances and exits can be modified
with a minimal expenditure to
channel all visitors through a
reception desk. Individuals
entering the building would be
required to sign a register
indicating the name and room number
of the person whom they wish to
visit. A system for signing out when
the individual departs could be
integrated into this procedure.
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11. |
Maintenance of good public relations
is important for every organization.
However, please remember that
ensuring security for your
organization and your patrons is
vital. And YOU are responsible for
it. The threatened use of explosives
necessitates that in the interest of
safety and security, some
inconvenience may have to be imposed
on visitors to public buildings.
Fortunately, the public is becoming
more accustomed to routine security
checks and will readily accept these
minor inconveniences.
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The Bomb-Threat
Plan
It is easy to lose nerve when one picks up
the phone and receives a grave voice telling
that his place is going to be blown off any
minute. It is very important to be prepared
with an organized plan to deal with such a
situation. This will help you to tide over
any threat situation without unnecessary
panic, confusion, and chaos in your
establishment.
Responding to a
Bomb-Threats
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1. |
All your phones must have caller
ID system. Having a facility for
automatic recording of calls is not
a bad idea. Probability of being
caught is the biggest deterrent for
any prankster. Let your
employees/workers/students know that
you have state-of-art machines
fitted at your central phone consol.
It helps.
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2. |
Treat all threat calls as
important. Just because
statistics suggest that most of the
bomb-threats are hoax, it does give
us any room for complacency.
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3. |
Instruct all personnel, especially
those at the telephone switchboard,
in what to do if a bomb-threat is
received. A calm response to the
bomb threat caller could result in
obtaining additional information.
This is especially true if the
caller is a genuine one and wishes
to avoid injuries or deaths. If told
that the building is occupied or
cannot be evacuated in time, the
caller may be willing to give more
specific information on the bomb's
location, components, or method of
initiation. |
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4. |
The bomb threat caller is the best
source of information about the
bomb. When a bomb threat is called
in:
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a. Keep the caller on the line as
long as possible. Ask him/her to
repeat the message. Record every
word spoken by the person.
b. If the caller does not indicate
the location of the bomb or the time
of possible detonation, ask him/her
for this information.
c. 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.
d. 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.
e. 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 the person designated by
management to receive such
information.
f. Report the information
immediately to the police. Never
think that you will be called an
alarmist. Remember – every call is
true, unless otherwise proven.
g. Remain available. Police will
want to interview you.
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5. |
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. |
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Summary
This pamphlet serves only as a guide
and is not intended to be a
comprehensive manual for securing
your establishment or preparing you
from any bomb-threat. There can be
various different scenarios and
situations. In all such cases, rule
of thumb is: Remain calm and use
your common sense. Police is always
there to help you. Be prepared. Be
safe. |
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