MAIL BOMB RECOGNITION

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MAIL BOMB RECOGNITION

• Cheryl L. Wieser
• Regional Security Officer
• 206-526-6653

Updated 10/04/11
U.S. Department of Commerce Office Of Security
(OSY)
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REASONS FOR SENDING A MAIL BOMB

• Revenge
• workplace violence
• Love Triangle
• Business Disputes
• Extortion
• Terrorism
• political motivation

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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.

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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

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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.

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COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF LETTER PARCEL BOMBS

• TYPE OF MAIL
• FOREIGN, PRIOROTIY, SPECIAL DELIVERY
• RESTRICTIVE MARKINGS
• CONFIDENTIAL, PERSONAL, TO BE OPENED BY ADDRESSEE
  ONLY

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COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• VISUAL DISTRACTION FRAGILE, RUSH, HANDLE WITH
  CARE
• EXECESSIVE POSTAGE (USUALLY POSTAGE STAMPS)

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COMMON CHARACTERISITICS

• FICTICIOUS OR NO RETURN ADDRESS
• POORLY TYPED OR HANDWRITTEN ADDRESS
• INCORRECT TITLES

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COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• TITLES BUT NO NAMES
• MISSPELLINGS OF COMMON WORDS
• OILY STAINS OR DISCOLORATIONS

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COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• EXCESSIVE OR UNEVEN WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
• EXECESSIVE BINDING MATERIAL
• MASKING, ELECTRIC OR STRAPPING TAPE, STRING, TWINE

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COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• RIGID, LOPSIDED OR UNEVEN ENVELOPE
• PROTRUDING WIRES, SCREWS OR OTHER METAL PARTS
• POSTMARK DIFFERENT FROM RETUN ADDRESS

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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

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SUMMARY

• LOOK FOR THE UNUSUAL
• ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF YOUR SAFETY

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QUESTIONS??
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