C3 Bomb Incident Management

Question 1

What common security principles is bomb security built on?

Answer 1

Access control, security awareness training, business continuity, emergency management, and human resource support for victims. Bomb response is a management-level responsibility.

Question 2

Is it preferable to evacuate in all cases of a bomb threat? (Better safe than)

Answer 2

No, some organizations must continue operations until the hazard has been deemed probable.

Question 3

What is the technical term for a bomb? What is that term defined as?

Answer 3

Improvised Explosive Device: a device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating destruction, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemical design to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. It may incorporate military stores, but is normally devised from non-military components.

Question 4

How is bomb defined?

Answer 4

An explosive or incendiary device designed to create damage and injury. A bomb can be made from commercial, military, or improvised (homemade) explosives and components. A bomb can be hand delivered, vehicle borne, part of a suicide attack, projected by a weapon, or delivered to the target by other means.

Question 5

How is “unattended item” defined?

Answer 5

An item whose presence is not readily explained and which could contain or be a hazard, such as a bomb.

Question 6

How is “Bomb Threat” defined?

Answer 6

A threat that a bomb has been or will be used against an organization or person.

Question 7

How is “Hoax” defined?

Answer 7

An item or threat that does not actually represent a hazard but is designed to create the impression that a real bomb is on-site.

Question 8

How are “Secondary Hazards” defined?

Answer 8

Materials that are safe until affected by an explosion. Mangers need to know the type and location of all hazardous materials and processes so emergency services can briefed.

Question 9

What are 3 motives for a bombing?

Answer 9

Criminal, Political, or Personal.

Question 10

How is the “Materials” element applicable in terms of bombing?

Answer 10

Materials include: a main charge of explosive or incendiary material, an initiator detonator, a triggering mechanism and safety switch. The components may be commercial, military, or homemade in origin.

Question 11

How is the “Knowledge” element applicable in terms of bombing? What are the three knowledge sub-elements?

Answer 11

Formal training by mining/construction industries, pyrotechnic and special effects companies, military/law enforcement agencies, and terrorist agencies.

Personal research: reading texts both hard copy and on internet.

Site knowledge: (operations and physical layouts) is often required to ensure appropriate placement of a bomb.

Question 12

How is the “Opportunity” element used in the terms of bombing?

Answer 12

The offender needs an opportunity to place the bomb on or near the target site or individual. This element can be controlled by an organizations bomb security management plan.

Question 13

What are the “Four elements of a Bombing?

Answer 13

1) Motive
2) Material
3) Knowledge
4) Opportunity

Question 14

What are 5 advantages for a bomber to bombing instead of using another method of attack?

Answer 14

1) Large amount of damage compared to size of device,
2) Greater level of damage than from an armed assaultdegree of anonymity, as the offender does not have to be on-site at the time of the explosion
3) Ability to cause damage to a site with a device placed outside the site
4) Ability to cause considerable disruption to the operations operation and reputation with little expense.
5) High media value for publicizing a cause.

Question 15

What are four disadvantages for a bomber to bombing instead of using another method of attack?

Answer 15

1) Possibility of bomb maker will be killed by an explosion during construction or transportation of the bomb.
2) Risk of detection when placing the bomb on or near the site or into a delivery system (mail or courier)
3) Risk that the device may be detected before it detonates, resulting in site evacuation and potential bomb disarmament.
4) Forensic evidence from the bomb components, increasing the risk of identification and arrest.

Question 16

What should be included in a bomb incident management plan?

Answer 16

Information specific guidance, Policies, procedures, and training. The plan must be site specific. It should address unattended items, bomb threats, combs, hazardous mail, and post-blast conditions.

Question 17

What are the four Principles of Bomb Security?

Answer 17

1) Preventing the bomb from entering the site.
2) Early Detection of Bomb Incidents.
3) Appropriate Response Measures.
4) Careful Design of facilities.

Question 18

What are seven measures that can be used to help an organization protect itself from a bomb incident?

Answer 18

1) Access control
2) Defence in depth
3) Good workplace practices
4) Staff awareness
5) Training of supervisors and managers
6) Standoff distance-keeping assets far from the site boundary.
7) Detection Equipment.

Question 19

What are the five R’s of a threat evaluation?

Answer 19

1) Receive-method of threat arrival
2) Record-the threat wording must be accurately recorded for evaluation
3) Report-Threats should be passed to the TET quickly
4) Review-The assessment of if a threat warrants an evacuation.
5) Respond-Either perform a full or partial evacuation. if the threat has been evaluated as not plausible either notify police of threat, ask employees to stay on the lookout, record the evaluation for future reference and continue working.

Question 20

What is a TET? Who is the Threat Coordinator?

Answer 20

Threat Evaluation Team meets to review Bomb incidents.

The threat coordinator summons the TET and should have sufficient authority or call in all managers and order an evacuation. The Threat Coordinator coordinates the Threat Evaluation. The threat coordinator conducts a quick initial review to determine if a threat is serious enough to warrant them to call an immediate evacuation prior to summoning the TET.

Question 21

What is the formula for the time available to evaluate a threat? What would cause the formula/Bomb elevation to immediately occur.

Answer 21

Threat evaluation time = (Threat Time of Bomb Detonation) - (Evacuation time of site) - (Safety margin) - (Current Time)

If Threat Time of Bomb detonation is not provided, evaluation must be completed asap.

Question 22

What four steps should be included in the planned response to a bomb?

Answer 22

1) Report incident to the designated manager.
2) Confirm if the bomb has been identified as a bomb and is not just an unidentified item.
3) Initiate an immediate evacuation if the item is believed to be a bomb.
4) Supervise the evacuation/shutdown in accordance with incident management plan.

Question 23

What are the two key elements to protect persons from a bomb blast?

Answer 23

Distance and Cover

Question 24

Why are suicide bombers particularly dangerous?

Answer 24

Suicide bombers are guided weapons, capable of changing their target and timing.

Question 25

What four steps can be taken to mitigate/prevent damage from a vehicle bomb?

Answer 25

1) Banning or limiting public parking at site
2) Physical Hardening by installing vehicle barriers such as fences, bollards, trees, terrain features, or other barriers.
3) Pre-registration of drivers and vehicles.
4) Vehicle inspections.

Question 26

What are off-route bombs?

Answer 26

A bombing that targets a vehicle when it is in motion. IEDs are examples of off-route bombs.

Question 27

Who can determine if a bomb threat is a hoax?

Answer 27

Only trained law enforcement.

Question 28

How are unattended items assessed?

Answer 28

Using the 5 Rs:
1) Receive-method of notification, ie. shopper in mall
2) Record-as munch information about the unattended item as possible.
3) Report-to someone trained in response to an unattended item.
4) Review-review CCTV footage and interview witnesses to determine how the unattended item was left. I.e. accidentally, intentionally, or discarded as garbage.
5) Respond-If item is deemed lost property, treat it as such, otherwise perform a full or partial evacuation.

Question 29

What should six things should be included in a post-blast response?

Answer 29

1) Medical resource deployment.
2) Human Resources (mental health)
3) Repair of damaged areas
4) Activating Insurance
5) Public Relations (deal with reporters)
6) Legal Protection (for possible lawsuits)

Question 30

What does EXPLOSIVE PARCEL stand for?

Answer 30

Excessive securing material
eXcessive weight
Protruding wires or tin foil
Lopsided or unevenly weighted
Oily stains and discoloration
Stiff or rigid envelope
Is the package expected?
Visual distractions
Excessive postage

Proper Names and title incorrect
Address handwritten or poorly typed
Restrictive markings, e.g., “Confidential”
Common misspelled words
Either unusual or foreign object
Lacks address of sender

Question 31

Upon arrival, is hazardous mail likely to have a timing circuit?

Answer 31

No, as the mail has already made it through the mail system, which could take a long time, it is unlikely the bomber would have used a timing circuit; Therefore, there is ample time to review the package to determine if it is hazardous. The exception to this is when a courier delivers the mail as it could be timed.

Question 32

What four controls can be implemented to detect hazardous mail?

Answer 32

1) Transparency spray-makes it possible to see inside envelopes, but may damage the internal documents
2) X-ray machines
3) Metal detectors
4) Explosive detectors

Question 33

What should or should not be done after mail has been deemed hazardous?

Answer 33

DO NOT open the mail
DO NOT wet the mail
DO NOT place the mail in an enclosed box
DO NOT show the mail off to other people
DO NOT carry the item through a crowded space

DO place the item on a flat surface away from similar items.
DO consider moving the item to an isolation area
DO gather as much information as possible for responding emergency services.
DO evacuate the immediate area.
DO report the mail to a manager and emergency services.

Question 34

What does CB stand for? What is the first goal of CB management?

Answer 34

CB stands for Chemical and Biological Agents. The first goal is to prevent the spread of these agents

Question 35

What controls can be put in place for CB management?

Answer 35

Separate AC systems for the mail room and the building, Use a specially designed containment cabinet to open the mail. Place suspicious items in a saleable box or bag,cover an item where it is.

Exposed personnel shall be evacuated from the contaminated area but shall not join the general population. Wash hands and trap water for further analysis. Offer/Accept counseling.

Question 36

Are courier delivered items less or more of a concern than postal mail items?

Answer 36

Courier delivered items are more concerning as often the courier uses their own standard packaging. They are delivered by hand/on a schedule so they may contain timing devices.

Question 37

Should a Courier delivered package that is suspected of containing a bomb be handled the same or differently than a mail bomb?

Answer 37

A courier delivered package should be treated as if it were an in-place bomb, not like a mail bomb.

It is suggested to have courier delivered items delivered to one location.

Question 38

What are the four different types of searches?

Answer 38

1) Occupant search-All employees search their work area and report anything out of the ordinary. All other areas of the site are searched by previously nominated teams.
2) Warden search-Trained supervisors search an area and ask staff questions to see if anything is out of the ordinary. This search is best suited to shopping malls.
3) Team search-Teams are trained well and proceed to search through nominated areas and report their findings directly back the the TET. They are often coordinated by a search coordinator.
4) High-risk search-This search is conducted by a highly trained team that has equipment designed for searching for bombs. This is usually a government team.

Question 39

What are four search considerations/techniques?

Answer 39

1) It is better to have a team of two than a single person because they can verify that they have jointly searched all spaces.
2) Search teams should be separated from other search teams by at least one room in case one of the teams accidentally triggers the bomb.
3) Utility and Engineering spaces are best searched by employees who know that space.
4) A door should be marked with chalk once searched and the search coordinator should mark the room as searched on their map/list.

Question 40

What are the three different kinds of explosives?

Answer 40

1) Mechanical
2) Chemical
3) Nuclear

Question 41

What does HC stand for? What do the ratings mean? (BFF)

Answer 41

Hazard Classification
HC 1.1: Primary hazard is a blast
HC 1.2: Primary hazard is fragmentation
HC 1.3: Primary hazard is fire
HC 1.4-1.16: Hazards are reduced by packaging.

Question 42

What does Blast refer to? What three things is it dependent on?

Answer 42

The compressed low and high pressure air resulting from an explosion.

1) Type of explosive and method of detonation
2) Location
3) Packing or Confinement

Question 43

What does Fragmentation refer to? What is it dependent on?

Answer 43

Fragmentation refers to how the materials of the bomb disperse after it is detonated. Fragmentation depends largely on the size of the bomb casing, what the casing is made of, and if additional materials such as nails are added to the bomb.

Question 44

What does Heat refer to? What is it dependent on?

Answer 44

Heat refers to the exothermic reaction of a bomb. Heat can be increased if accelerants are added to the bomb.

Question 45

What elements should emergency repose planning take into account ? (A whole bunch of them)

Answer 45

Shelter- a hold in place procedure can protect people
Data Search- Review video footage, card access logs etc., remote access capability is preferable.
Assembly Areas-Locations for individuals to wait out the emergency response.
Emergency Rendezvous Point-where the TET can regroup after an evacuation.
Special Item removal-removal of critical equipment/personnel/laboratory samples to a safe location.
Alerting neighbors-so they can evacuate as well and/or they cannot claim they were not informed about the incident.
Shutdown Procedures-to prevent out of control machinery/making the problem worse
Clients/customers/third parties on site.

For Reoccupation of a site:
Decision process for reoccupying a site.
Search- a full search of site prior to reoccupying the site, even if all clear has been given.