Bomb threats pose a significant security concern for businesses and institutions. The severity and possibility of the risks to businesses can vary, but their occurrence can result in public panic, disruption of normal operations, injuries, casualties, and property damage. Bomb threats can be received via email, phone calls, handwritten notes, mail, and social media post. The bomb can be of different types like Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), pipe bombs, letter, and package bombs, etc.
In 2023, a notable number of bomb threats were reported in India, targeting various institutions, from schools to banks. Between October and December 2023, 31 bomb threats were reported in various cities. 7 out of the 31 threats were against airports and flights, leading to travel disruptions. The other instances targeted different institutions like stadiums, banks, schools, political institutions, and a foreign embassy.
The risks of bomb threats underscore the need for businesses to take them into account while developing a security plan to effectively minimize the risks posed by bomb threats. The following are keyways in which bomb threats affect business operations and continuity.
Disruption of Operations: Bomb threats induce widespread panic and require mitigation measures, often including evacuation of the affected area. These mitigation measures can disrupt business operations by causing loss of working hours and office closures. In the unfortunate event of a bomb explosion, the damage caused to life and property can further exacerbate the disruption to business operations.
Disruptions of Supply Chains: Essential parts of the supply chain, logistics businesses, airports, and ports are susceptible to suspension of operations due to incidences of bomb threats. Security measures taken to mitigate the incident can impede crucial transport routes, leading to disruptions of supply chain operations.
Financial Losses: The disruption of business operations and loss of working hours due to evacuations and investigations can lead to significant financial losses. The financial loss can increase due to potential property damage,
Increased Costs: The escalated risk of bomb threats can require fortification of existing security measures, leading to an increase in the security costs for businesses. The security measures can include the implementation of new technology, an increase in the amount of security personnel, and the formulation of a new security plan.
Reputational Damage: Incidences of bomb threats can lead to reputational damage due to the perception of a lack of security measures. This can lead to a lack of trust by customers and stakeholders.
Psychological Impact: The potential threat of a bomb explosion can evoke fear and anxiety among the employees of the affected business and the broader public in the vicinity. This psychological impact has the potential to persist over the long term, affecting the morale and productivity of the affected employees.
Organizations can take the following steps to mitigate the risks of bomb threats:
Preventive measures: Preventive measures are crucial to ensure a decrease in the possibility of being targeted. A thorough risk assessment of all business locations and assets helps identify vulnerabilities. Subsequently, a comprehensive mitigation plan encompassing steps taken to improve the security of the location and detailed protocols to be taken following a threat incident should be created. The employees should be aware of the security protocols to be followed during an incident. Access control and surveillance systems aid in the prevention of bomb threat incidences and investigation after the incident.
Protocols during an incident: In the event of a bomb threat, the security officers need to ensure the employees remain calm and that necessary protocols are followed. The person who identifies the threat should try to note as much detail as possible to help access the threat and provide the information to law enforcement agencies. The Chief Security Officers and law enforcement officials should be immediately informed.
The security officers must be well-trained to identify the level of threat posed by a threat and take appropriate action. The Chief Security Officer could activate the emergency response team and conduct a search of the premises to identify any suspicious items. If an evacuation is required, it should be done in an orderly manner according to the protocols prepared.
Post-Incident Assessment: Following the resolution of the incident, close coordination with law enforcement agencies during their investigation is imperative. A post-incident assessment should be conducted to analyse the incident and update security measures as required. It is also crucial that the organization provides support to stakeholders and employees. Counselling services can be provided to help alleviate the psychological impact of the incident.
An effective bomb threat management plan, following the protocols laid down during an incident and thorough post-incident assessment, helps organizations to effectively mitigate the risks of bomb threats. datasurfr’s real-time updates alert businesses about incidents that can affect specific business locations. The platform also aids organizations in tracking events to analyse trends and vulnerabilities. Leveraging the features available on datasurfr helps businesses proactively mitigate the problems faced due to bomb threats.
