Bomb threat procedure

More commonly, bomb threats are received over the phone. When this occurs, the person taking the call should try to give someone nearby a note about the call and ask him or her to call the local emergency number or the business¡¦s security number.

The following procedures can help the person taking a bomb threat call respond appropriately:

1. Remain calm. Be courteous and don¡¦t interrupt the caller.

2. Note whether the caller is male or female, an adult or a child.

3. Keep the caller on the phone as long as possible. Don¡¦t hang up until the caller does. The phone company may be able to trace the call if you stay on the line long enough.

4. If the switchboard or a caller ID system displays the caller¡¦s phone number, write it down.

5. Ask questions to get information. Write all information down.

6. Try to find out:

„h The location of the bomb

„h The time of detonation

„h What kind of bomb it is and what it looks like

„h Where the caller is

„h How the caller knows about the bomb

„h If the caller is familiar with the building

„h When the bomb is set to explode

„h Whether other bombs have been placed and where

„h Why the bomb was placed

7. Inform the caller that the building is occupied and that the bomb could cause injuries or death.

8. Listen for any background noises and any caller mannerisms, voice characteristics or accents.

9. After the caller hangs up, call your local emergency number and the owner or manager of the business in which you are working. Explain the situation.

10. Do not use walkie-talkies, beepers or two-way radios during a bomb threat. Some bombs can be set off by these communication devices.

Some businesses will conduct a search for a bomb before the local police arrive if an evacuation isn't immediately ordered. Staff members should look for suspicious items or changes in the arrangement of equipment, furnishings, or other articles. No one, though, should touch, handle, or move any suspicious object they might find.

Bomb threat procedure
Bomb threat procedure: responding properly to a bomb threat call can save lives, prevent injuries, and maybe even help find the would-be bomber.



Although bomb threats are typically seen as the work of cranks or not-so-funny pranksters, recent increases in terrorism have made it important that all bomb threats be taken seriously. It is much better to assume that a threatening call is deadly serious than to shrug it off as a prank only to find out through a tragedy that there really was a bomb.

If you or your business receives a written bomb threat, the note should be handled as little as possible in order to preserve fingerprint, handwriting, postmarks, typewriting and other evidence. The person receiving it should save all items connected with the note, such as the envelope and its contents. The note and other items should be placed in a bag and delivered to the police.