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Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
America's Cyber Defense Agency

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Bombing Prevention

A whole-of-government approach will best position the US to discover plots to use IEDs in the US or against US persons abroad before the threats become imminent.

Physical Security

  • Active Shooter Preparedness
  • Bombing Prevention
  • Insider Threat Mitigation
  • Non-Confrontational Techniques
  • Protecting Houses of Worship
  • School Safety
  • Securing Public Gatherings
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems
  • Vehicle Ramming Mitigation

Overview 

One of CISA’s greatest responsibilities is providing for the safety and security of our citizens, allies, and partners while providing an economic environment that promotes opportunity and prosperity. The use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) threatens these interests by killing, injuring, and intimidating citizens and political leaders around the world, inflicting damage on U.S. forces on the battlefield, and disrupting transportation and the flow of commerce. The terrorists and criminals responsible for these attacks are resilient, technologically adept, and adaptable. They employ the most recent and successful tactics, techniques, and procedures gained from experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. The use of IEDs worldwide has increased in recent years, with the number of attacks exceeding 7,000 in 2021.

IEDs remain one of the most accessible weapons available to terrorists and criminals to damage critical infrastructure and inflict casualties. The tactics used in IED attacks continue to evolve as our adversaries seek to overcome countermeasures. We must continue to challenge ourselves and each other to be more effective against these threats as we work together to reach our shared national interests of safety, security, and prosperity. The threat from IED use will continue to evolve in response to our abilities to counter them. A whole-of-government approach that incorporates the lessons learned from the state, local, tribal, territorial, private sector, and international community in Counter-IED (C-IED) activities will best position the US to discover plots to use IEDs in the US or against US persons abroad before those threats become imminent. 

CISA’s Role  

To reduce risk to the nation’s critical infrastructure, the Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) employs several programs and develops and delivers a diverse curriculum of training and awareness products to build nationwide C-IED core capabilities and to enhance awareness of terrorist threats. CISA’s OBP seeks to enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate the use of explosives against critical infrastructure, the private sector, and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities. 

Coordinated through state homeland security officials and training offices, OBP courses educate on strategies to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents. Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial participants include municipal officials and emergency managers, state and local law enforcement and other emergency services, critical infrastructure owners and operators, security staff, and public and private sector partners. 

Featured Content

Security and Resiliency Guide (SRG)

The Security and Resiliency Guide and Annexes are intended to assist stakeholders to plan and implement C-IED activities within their overall public safety and emergency management approach. 

Technical Resource for Incident Prevention (TRIPwire) Portal

TRIPwire is the Department of Homeland Security's collaborative information-sharing and resource portal. 

What to Do - Bomb Threat

The guidance and resources on this page outline in-depth procedures for either bomb threats or suspicious items and will help you prepare and react appropriately during these events.

Featured Videos

CISA’s Critical Resources for Handling Bomb Threats

What to Do: Bomb Threat

What to Do: Suspicious or Unattended Item

What to Do: Bomb Searches

What to Do: Surviving a Bombing Attack

Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance is the access point for bombing prevention suite of training, tools, products, services and resources.

Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP)

BMAP is a counter-terrorism risk management bombing prevention program. BMAP focuses on restricting access by malicious actors to explosive precursor chemicals, powders, target materials, associated components, and delivery methods.

Operation Flashpoint Program

Operation Flashpoint is a CISA-FBI partnership designed to promote voluntary reporting of suspicious activity through outreach and awareness to private sector and public safety stakeholders in order to prevent acquisition of explosive precursor chemicals for nefarious use.

Explosive Blast Modeling (EBM) Program

The EBM Program uses current blast modeling technologies and tools to provide a physics-based, 3D-model used for anti-terrorism and force protection against improvised explosive device attacks. 

Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Capabilities Assessments (CCA) Program

The CCA Program evaluates and analyzes public safety agencies and entities in a methodological assessment process. The CCA Program determines the specific capabilities and activities to best address IED risks and resources gaps found during the assessment process.

Training

Bombing prevention training is available through multiple platforms: direct delivery in-person in a classroom or in-residence at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), online through a Virtual Instructor-led Training (VILT) platform, and through Independent Study Training (IST).

OBP Training

Bomb Threat Assessment for Decision Makers Course (AWR-945)

COURSE | VIRTUAL/ONLINE
The Bomb Threat Assessment for Decision Makers Course introduces the participant to types of threats, the threat assessment process, and the implementation of a Bomb Threat Management (BTM) plan.
Register

Bombing Prevention Awareness Course (AWR-348)

COURSE | IN-PERSON
The Bombing Prevention Awareness Course (AWR-348) provides participants knowledge of general bombing prevention measures that aid in mitigating the impact of a bombing incident.
Register

Surveillance Detection for Bombing Prevention Course (PER-346)

COURSE | IN-PERSON
The Surveillance Detection for Bombing Prevention (SDBP) course (PER-346) provides public safety and security professionals fundamental knowledge and skills to recognize and respond appropriately to hostile surveillance at facilities and planned and unplanned events.
Register

Bomb Threat Preparedness and Response Course (AWR-903)

COURSE | VIRTUAL/ONLINE
The Bomb Threat Preparedness and Response Course (AWR-903) provides participants with interactive exercises and case histories of what actually happened during bomb incidents to familiarize participants with the steps necessary to prepare for and respond to a bomb threat.
Register
OBP Training

Resources

Bombing prevention products/resources—including cards, posters, checklists, guides, videos, briefings, and applications—provide C-IED  awareness information to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents.

OBP Products

Technical Resource for Incident Prevention (TRIPwire) Portal

OTHER
TRIPwire is DHS' online, collaborative information-sharing and resource portal for bomb squads, emergency responders, military personnel, government officials, intelligence analysts, private sector security professionals, and critical infrastructure owners and operators.

Security and Resiliency Guide (SRG) and Annexes

PUBLICATION
The Security and Resiliency Guide and Annexes are intended to assist stakeholders to plan and implement C-IED activities within their overall public safety and emergency management approach.
View Files

DHS-DOJ Bomb Threat Guidance Quad-Fold

PUBLICATION
Developed with the FBI, the DHS-DOJ Bomb Threat Guidance Quad Fold is a quick reference guide that provides site decision-makers with pre-threat preparation, threat assessment considerations, staff response guidelines, and evacuation and shelter-in-place considerations.
Download File (PDF, 247.63 KB)

DHS Bomb Threat Checklist

PUBLICATION
The DHS Bomb Threat Checklist provides instructions on how to respond to a bomb threat and a comprehensive list of information that will assist law enforcement in a bomb threat investigation.
Download File (PDF, 249.78 KB)
OBP Products

Articles

Dec 02, 2022
Story

How to Use the Security and Resiliency Guide

Dec 02, 2022
Story

What to Do - Bomb Threat

Contact

To report suspicious activity, call 9-1-1 or contact local law enforcement.

Please contact your local Protective Security Advisor (PSA) or send an email to the Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) at OBP@cisa.dhs.gov for additional information about OBP products and programs, or to schedule a training session or a planning workshop.

Informed, alert communities play a critical role in keeping our nation safe. Everyone has a responsibility to protect our nation—"If You See Something, Say SomethingTM."

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