MAIL BOMB RECOGNITION

REASONS FOR SENDING A MAIL BOMB

• Revenge– workplace violence

• Love Triangle

• Business Disputes

• Extortion

• Terrorism– political motivation

TWO TYPES OF BOMBS

• Placed Bombs:– Are placed by an

individual. These devices can be triggered by any one of a number of methods

– These include hand delivered packages

• Mail Bombs:– Are sent through the

US Postal System or delivered by a commercial package service including UPS, Fed Ex, or a common carrier such as a local trucking company.

METHODS TO TRIGGER PLACED BOMBS

• Timer• Motion• Proximity switch• Light activated• Trigger when opened• Unstable elements• Poor workmanship

Electric or mechanical Mercury switch Introduced object Light on or off Tripped by opening Age or design flaw Premature activation

TRIGGERING MAIL BOMBS

• Are often limited to one primary method, that of opening the package. Since mail bombs are designed to pass through the mail system, the ones that actually get delivered are usually fairly rugged, since they have passed sorting, canceling and various routing & transportation operations.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF

LETTER & PARCEL BOMBS

• TYPE OF MAIL: – FOREIGN, PRIOROTIY, SPECIAL

DELIVERY

• RESTRICTIVE MARKINGS:– CONFIDENTIAL, PERSONAL, TO BE

OPENED BY ADDRESSEE ONLY

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• VISUAL DISTRACTION: FRAGILE, RUSH, HANDLE WITH CARE

• EXECESSIVE POSTAGE (USUALLY POSTAGE STAMPS)

COMMON CHARACTERISITICS

• FICTICIOUS OR NO RETURN ADDRESS

• POORLY TYPED OR HANDWRITTEN ADDRESS

• INCORRECT TITLES

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• TITLES BUT NO NAMES

• MISSPELLINGS OF COMMON WORDS

• OILY STAINS OR DISCOLORATIONS

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• EXCESSIVE OR UNEVEN WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

• EXECESSIVE BINDING MATERIAL:– MASKING, ELECTRIC OR STRAPPING

TAPE, STRING, TWINE

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• RIGID, LOPSIDED OR UNEVEN ENVELOPE

• PROTRUDING WIRES, SCREWS OR OTHER METAL PARTS

• POSTMARK DIFFERENT FROM RETUN ADRESS

WHAT TO DO

• Restrict access• Do not open• Do not cover• Move once• Isolate• Open area• Keep dry• Call Police

Keep people away Make no attempts No covers or blankets No unnecessary handling Isolate in dry area Do not enclose package Do not place in water Ask for Bomb Squad

SUMMARY

• LOOK FOR THE UNUSUAL

• ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF YOUR SAFETY