Postmark: Terror

[Music] [Music] the letter bomb the parcel bomb instruments of Terror the Postal Services of 100 Nations provide the delivery system for the terrorist bomber who sits safely miles away who are the targets any member of The Establishment from a policeman to a corporate executive to a political official from an ambassador to a labor leader none is immune from the danger the majority of letter bonds have utilized a pressure release system when the envelope is opened the [ __ ] Striker releases a firing pin which ignites the primer and Blasting cap detonating the explosion the average letter bomb has contained approximately 2 to 5 O of explosive just a big firecracker right wrong military plastic explosive is most powerful here at the test site a technician inserts a few ounces of plastic in a common envelope this is placed in the center of two tires for safety the explosive will be remotely detonated [Music] a bit more punch than a firecracker the average government agency or large corporation will daily process thousands of letters and packages how do you defend against such an Insidious threat as the letter bomb you must have a counter bomb plan of which letter and parcel bomb defense is an integral part a number one priority is to establish a a central location for the receipt and distribution of all mail the second priority is to Institute manual and visual screening programs all persons handling and screening mail must be trained to be alert for suspect letters and packages what are some of the recognition points that in the past have spelled letter bomb be alert if a letter is soiled or stained or if there's a strange odor be suspicious if there's no return address another warning sign is excessive postage that ly typed or handwritten letters are a cause for concern closely scrutinized mail from foreign countries special delivery letters and those with air mail labels watch for misspelled words especially common words and names creat gingerly envelopes and packages marked with restrictive words such as confidential be careful when there's a mismatching of name and title or if there's just a title and no name an air mail letter that weighs more than 2 ounces should be cause for concern be extremely careful if there's rigidity especially along the center length do not Bend or Flex such a letter be just as careful when an envelope is lopsided or uneven if a wire or other substance is protruding call for professional assistance the odds are you have a bomb or hooka device don't let visual distractions lure you into opening a book letter or package rography for example has been used as a ploy several times if you have any doubts about a letter or package don't don't handle it call for professional help every mail room should have a wall poster which lists basic letter and parcel bomb recognition points receptionists and secretaries should have such warning material in compressed form ready for instant reference such forms can also be distributed to potential targets and their families in high threat areas advances in battery and Power Cell technology have allowed a more sophisticated fabrication of mail bombs common letter bomb recognition points have been published all over the world and an intelligent bomber can construct a device which is difficult to detect solely by Visual and manual methods all mail room should have access to a suspected item holding area ideally this should be outdoors but since this is impossible in most facilities the holding area should be close to the male sorting operation do not carry suspected items through concentrations of people if possible select a room which has a window that opens on the outside of the building if there is an explosion this will will assist in venting gases in many modern highrises the windows cannot be open therefore the holding area should be reinforced with energy absorbing materials like ballistic fiberglass nylon or Kevlar there should be a protective container in which the suspect item can be held until the arrival of the bomb squad a bomb basket is a functional container as our sandbags and automobile tires if Mobility is not needed if a bomb blanket is used do not let it directly contact the item it is impossible for a bomb technician to see a covered package and a pressure device could be set off when the blanket is removed a plus factor in using a container such as a bomb basket is mobility the suspected item can be remotely removed from a room or building to illustrate the value of a containment device a letter bomb will be detonated between a bank of fluorescent tubes note the lateral force of the explosion an identical amount of explosive is placed in The netting of a bomb basket observe the explosive force being vented upward note the directional force of each explosion an open vent such as a window will help dissipate upward blast energy the so-called underground press assists radicals and the mentally disturbed by publishing easyto follow bomb making schematics the Big Brother of the letter bomb is the parcel bomb it is most deadly since it can contain a considerable amount of explosiv a common type is the book bomb this is a photograph of an actual terrorist bomb which was mailed to a prominent government official and this is a recreation of that bomb a box of Fine Chocolates or a pound of plastic or a stick or two of dynamite an instrument designed not to intimidate but to kill will [Music] this wrecking job was accomplished with just a little more than a half stick of 60% gel Dynamite a terrible amount of destructive force can be held in a small package the parcel bomb is normally triggered when open Can you spot such a deadly device as with the letter bomb there are recognizable clue there's generally an excess of stamps as the bomber wants to be absolutely sure of delivery be careful with the package that doesn't look professionally wrapped many parcel bombs have had an excess of securing material such as masking tape string or Scotch tape be wary of a soiled or dirty package if there's the slightest doubt do not open it as with the letter bomb any sign of prot treating wire tin foil or any foreign matter is caused for isolating the item and calling for professional assistant manual and visual screening procedures involving trained Personnel are the essence of a bomb counter measures program but there are some valuable equipment aids to augment the screening process letter bombs have contained some degree of metal and all mail rooms should have at least one metal detector x-ray is a most valuable tool especially for parcel bomb recognition it does require proper radiation protection and well-trained operators to know what they're reading as with all equipment and procedures you should obtain assistance from qualified bomb technicians prior to purchase explosive Vapor detection equipment should be considered for high threat areas this is sophisticated equipment which also requires a well-trained operator dogs trained to detect explosives are excellent but require special handling equipment is most useful but the primary and initial emphasis must be on trained personnel Mr Jones office Miss Jefferson Ellie in the mail room I a letter here from Mr Jones postmark London there's no return address or company marking is he expecting any mail from the UK hold a second while I check Ellie yes Mr Jones is expecting some correspondence from the defense Ministry this certainly isn't the letter sorry he's not expecting any other correspondents from the UK thanks I better have security to check this one out security Ellie in the mail room I think I a suspect letter from Mr Jones isolate it we'll have someone down there right away check with the intended recipient of a letter or package are they expecting anything from the geographical area from which the item was mailed if there is a return address and a name attempt to verify the legitimacy of the sender if you have a suspect parcel Evacuate the immediate area even with a hardened and vented holding room there should be a partial evacuation of the surrounding area keep the location sealed off while awaiting law enforcement fire or security Personnel the Salient points of an intelligent bomb countermeasures program are have a plan work with Security Professionals and bomb technicians to develop a practical program to meet the bomb threat train your screening Personnel all hands F involved with mail including those receiving mail should be familiar with the known recognizable features that have been peculiar to most letter and parcel bonds wives in high threat areas should also be briefed on the danger this can be done in an intelligent manner without breeding paranoia and hysteria a woman will readily understand that an extra cursory inspection of mail and packages can help protect her family in very high risk areas it should be policy that no mail or packages are accepted at the door no one but a qualified bomb technician should ever investigate a suspected item to the point of touching probing or opening if there's the slightest doubt about a letter or parcel treat it as a possible bomb don't open it don't handle it leave the investigation to professional bomb technicians above all be alert and don't take chances I was standing at my desk in the next apartment when it felt like a ceiling hit me it was terrible I got up covered with plaster and glass to try and find out what had happened then I could see there was no wall between the two offices anymore it was horrible everything was covered blood bodies lying everywhere some were trying to get up