1. The document outlines procedures for evacuating a building during a bomb threat, including calmly exiting without using elevators, following wardens' directions, and proceeding to an assembly area at least 500m away.
2. It also provides guidelines for identifying parcel or letter bombs, such as excessive postage or packaging, and chemical and biological threats including nerve agents, blood agents, and viruses.
3. The various threats - bomb, chemical, and biological - are explained to help prevent loss of lives and property damage by following proper procedures and identifying threats.
2. List theList the procedures forprocedures for
evacuating a buildingevacuating a building during bombduring bomb
threats situations.threats situations.
List theList the guidelinesguidelines for identifyingfor identifying
parcel/letter bombs.parcel/letter bombs.
Explain the types ofExplain the types of chemicalchemical
threats.threats.
Explain the types ofExplain the types of biologicalbiological
threats.threats.
3. IntroductionIntroduction
Bomb ThreatsBomb Threats
Chemical ThreatChemical Threat
Biological ThreatBiological Threat
ConclusionConclusion
Q & AQ & A
4. Terrorist Attack inTerrorist Attack in
Mumbai 26Mumbai 26thth
November 2008.November 2008.
Terrorist strikesTerrorist strikes
Mumbai again withMumbai again with
series of blasts onseries of blasts on
1313thth
July 2011.July 2011.
6. • A bomb threat is a threat toA bomb threat is a threat to
detonate an explosive or incendiarydetonate an explosive or incendiary
device to cause property damage,device to cause property damage,
death, or injuries.death, or injuries.
• With the increase in the number ofWith the increase in the number of
bomb threats in other countries,bomb threats in other countries,
Singapore is not necessarily sparedSingapore is not necessarily spared
from such threats.from such threats.
• Potential bomb threats will causePotential bomb threats will cause
the loss of human lives as well as tothe loss of human lives as well as to
assets and infrastructure.assets and infrastructure.
• When such a threat occurs, youWhen such a threat occurs, you
are required to evacuate theare required to evacuate the
building.building.
7. Explosive devices come inExplosive devices come in
almost any shape and form.almost any shape and form.
They may be hidden inThey may be hidden in
letters, tape recorders, briefletters, tape recorders, brief
cases and vehicles.cases and vehicles.
8. o The scale of devastationThe scale of devastation
caused by a bomb iscaused by a bomb is
determined by the followingdetermined by the following
factors:factors:
The type of materialThe type of material
used in its construction.used in its construction.
Location of bomb.Location of bomb.
Presence of lethalPresence of lethal
dispersal agent attacheddispersal agent attached
to the bomb.to the bomb.
9. Exit the building calmly and orderly. Do notExit the building calmly and orderly. Do not
panic.panic.
Do not use the elevators as you can getDo not use the elevators as you can get
trapped.trapped.
Follow the directions of the floor wardens/Follow the directions of the floor wardens/
emergency responders.emergency responders.
Proceed to the assembly areaProceed to the assembly area
(at least 500m away from, the(at least 500m away from, the
building) for head count.building) for head count.
Look out for emergency appliancesLook out for emergency appliances
that may be arriving. Keep thethat may be arriving. Keep the
streets and walkways clear.streets and walkways clear.
10. What do you do when you see a suspiciousWhat do you do when you see a suspicious
object or unexploded bomb?object or unexploded bomb?
Do not touch, move or warm itDo not touch, move or warm it
Move away and warn people in the areaMove away and warn people in the area
about itabout it
Report immediately to the policeReport immediately to the police
11. Use of excessive postageUse of excessive postage
given the weight of thegiven the weight of the
letter/parcel.letter/parcel.
Excessive use of securingExcessive use of securing
material such as string andmaterial such as string and
adhesive tape.adhesive tape.
Letter/parcel is rigid, or of anLetter/parcel is rigid, or of an
odd shape and size.odd shape and size.
Oily stains or discoloration onOily stains or discoloration on
wrapping material.wrapping material.
Letter/parcel gives off anLetter/parcel gives off an
12. Metallic noises when letter/parcel isMetallic noises when letter/parcel is
shaken gentlyshaken gently
Wires or aluminum foil protruding fromWires or aluminum foil protruding from
parcel/letterparcel/letter
Strange or foreign-looking handwritingStrange or foreign-looking handwriting
Letter/parcel is addressed to recipient byLetter/parcel is addressed to recipient by
name only or with restrictive markingsname only or with restrictive markings
such as “Personal”, “Confidential” or “Tosuch as “Personal”, “Confidential” or “To
be opened by addressee only”be opened by addressee only”
13. Unmanned, stolen or over-weightedUnmanned, stolen or over-weighted
vehiclesvehicles
Suspicious visible items within theSuspicious visible items within the
vehicle:vehicle:
Boxes/parcels with wiresBoxes/parcels with wires
Objects with suspicious signs of aObjects with suspicious signs of a
bombbomb
New number plate on old and dirtyNew number plate on old and dirty
vehiclevehicle
Signs of vehicle being tampered withSigns of vehicle being tampered with
(locks, fuel tank cover, bonnet and(locks, fuel tank cover, bonnet and
boot)boot)
Foreign objects attached under theForeign objects attached under the
vehicle or beside the wheelsvehicle or beside the wheels
14. Cult leader, Shoko Asahara,Cult leader, Shoko Asahara,
was sentenced to death forwas sentenced to death for
masterminding the 1995 nervemasterminding the 1995 nerve
gas attack in the Tokyo subwaygas attack in the Tokyo subway
which killed 12, injured 5,000which killed 12, injured 5,000
He also masterminded a sarinHe also masterminded a sarin
gas attack in June 1994 in thegas attack in June 1994 in the
central Japan city ofcentral Japan city of
Matsumoto.Matsumoto.
Asahara claimed to have lostAsahara claimed to have lost
control over his flock by thecontrol over his flock by the
time of the March 20, 1995,time of the March 20, 1995,
subway attack with sarin gas.subway attack with sarin gas.
15. A chemical agent is a toxicA chemical agent is a toxic
or hazardous gas, liquidor hazardous gas, liquid
or solid.or solid.
Poisonous to people and /Poisonous to people and /
or the environment.or the environment.
Can be dispersed by anCan be dispersed by an
improvised explosiveimprovised explosive
device (dirty bomb), spraydevice (dirty bomb), spray
devices, military weaponsdevices, military weapons
or any other means asor any other means as
WHAT ARE CHEMICAL AGENTS (CA)?WHAT ARE CHEMICAL AGENTS (CA)?
17. Initial symptoms following exposure to nerveInitial symptoms following exposure to nerve
agents:agents:
Runny noseRunny nose
Tightness in the chestTightness in the chest
Constriction of the pupilsConstriction of the pupils
Involuntarily bodily functions :Involuntarily bodily functions :
SalivateSalivate
UrinateUrinate
Lacrimate (Tearing)Lacrimate (Tearing)
DefecateDefecate
Experience gastronomical painExperience gastronomical pain
VomitingVomiting
18. chemical compound,chemical compound, carried by the blood forcarried by the blood for
distribution through the bodydistribution through the body ..
May contain cyanide compounds which can deactivateMay contain cyanide compounds which can deactivate
the energy-producing cells.the energy-producing cells.
Interrupt the production of blood componentsInterrupt the production of blood components
Prevents the normal transfer of oxygenPrevents the normal transfer of oxygen from thefrom the
blood to the body tissues.blood to the body tissues.
Blocking the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to bodyBlocking the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to body
tissues.tissues.
Absorbed by inhalation or through the skinAbsorbed by inhalation or through the skin
Death can occur within minutes if exposed to a highDeath can occur within minutes if exposed to a high
concentration of a blood agent.concentration of a blood agent.
19. A blister agent is a chemical compoundA blister agent is a chemical compound that are primarilythat are primarily
absorbed by the skin which is used to produce seriousabsorbed by the skin which is used to produce serious
injuries e.g.(injuries e.g.( severe skin, eye and mucosal pain andsevere skin, eye and mucosal pain and
irritation) rather than to kill.irritation) rather than to kill.
Most blister agents fall into one of three groups:Most blister agents fall into one of three groups:
Sulphur MustardsSulphur Mustards
Nitrogen MustardsNitrogen Mustards
LewisiteLewisite
20. A choking agent impede a victim's abilityA choking agent impede a victim's ability
to breathe which then leads toto breathe which then leads to
suffocation.suffocation.
Exposure to the eyes and skin tend to beExposure to the eyes and skin tend to be
corrosive, causing blurred vision andcorrosive, causing blurred vision and
severe deep burns.severe deep burns.
Cause burning the throat, coughing,Cause burning the throat, coughing,
vomiting, headache, pain in chest,vomiting, headache, pain in chest,
tightness in chest, and may lead totightness in chest, and may lead to
respiratory and circulatory failure.respiratory and circulatory failure.
21.
22.
23. Biological agents include any organism orBiological agents include any organism or
toxin found in nature.toxin found in nature.
Can be used to incapacitate, kill, or otherwiseCan be used to incapacitate, kill, or otherwise
impede your enemies.impede your enemies.
Spreading of BA may occur by aerosol sprays,Spreading of BA may occur by aerosol sprays,
explosives (artillery, missiles, detonatedexplosives (artillery, missiles, detonated
bombs), or food or water contamination.bombs), or food or water contamination.
24. Bacteria are small single-celledBacteria are small single-celled
organismsorganisms
Causative agent of anthrax andCausative agent of anthrax and
can transform into spores thatcan transform into spores that
are resistant to extremeare resistant to extreme
conditionsconditions
Bacteria that case diseases inBacteria that case diseases in
humans can act in eitherhumans can act in either
invading human tissue orinvading human tissue or
producing poisons and toxinsproducing poisons and toxins
Anthrax
25. Viruses are simple micro-organisms thatViruses are simple micro-organisms that
consist of a protein coat containingconsist of a protein coat containing
genetic material (E.g. SARS, smallpox).genetic material (E.g. SARS, smallpox).
Because viruses lack a system for theirBecause viruses lack a system for their
own metabolism, they require living hostsown metabolism, they require living hosts
(e.g. cells of an infected human) for(e.g. cells of an infected human) for
replicationreplication
Viruses are resistant to antibioticsViruses are resistant to antibiotics
smallpox
26. E.g. RicinE.g. Ricin
Biological toxins are poisons produced byBiological toxins are poisons produced by
living organisms (e.g. ricin extracted fromliving organisms (e.g. ricin extracted from
castor beans).castor beans).
Castor beans
27. There are biological agents that do notThere are biological agents that do not
fall under the general classes offall under the general classes of
bacterial agents, viral agents orbacterial agents, viral agents or
biological toxins.biological toxins.
For example, the agent responsible forFor example, the agent responsible for
Q fever has properties common to bothQ fever has properties common to both
bacteria and viruses, and cannot bebacteria and viruses, and cannot be
uniquely classified as either.uniquely classified as either.
28. Knowing the various threats can
help to prevent loss of lives and
damage.
By following the proper
procedures and understanding
the ways to identify threats, lives
and properties can be saved.
Editor's Notes
Mumbai has been hit by terrorist incidents at least half a dozen times since the early 1990s, with over 600 people dying in these attacks. In an editorial, the Times of India described the city as having become a "hot hunting ground for terror.
The 13 July 2011 Mumbai bombings were a series of three coordinated bomb explosions at different locations in Mumbai, India, on 13 July 2011 during evening rush hours, killing at least 17 people and injuring more than 100 others. The blasts occurred at the Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar, and Dadar West localities. A fourth bomb was reported to have been discovered in the Santacruz area and disarmed before it detonated.
Speculations for the bombings conincide with the 24th birthday of Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman from the 2008 siege according to BBC Reporters.
A bomb ripped through Oslo's central government district on Friday 22nd July 2011 with at least7 dead and a gunman dressed as a policeman then opened fire at a youth camp Utoeya island, north-west of Oslo, killing at least 17 people.
The carnage began at 3.26pm (11.26pm EST) when a large car bomb, left outside Oslo's main government building and city’s main squares, exploded with devastating effect, shattering almost every window in the 17-storey block including the Prime Minister office in Youngstorget. Shortly afterwards, a gunman believed to be at the age of 32 opened fire at the youth camp of the ruling political party on Utoeya island, north-west of Oslo with at least 10 were shot dead as they fled shooting on the small, wooded island. The island was evacuated and police found undetonated explosives.
Government workers suspected the attack was aimed at the Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, whose office in the targeted building was badly damaged in the blast.
Soon after, the victim will have difficulty in breathing and will experience
nausea and drooling. As the victim continues to lose control of his / her
bodily functions, he / she will involuntarily :
Salivate
Urinate
Lacrimate (Tearing)
Defecate
Experience gastronomical pain
Vomiting
This is a famous photo from WWI showing soldiers with the Mustard eye injury. Their convalescence ranged from two weeks to six months. Most did not die. One percent had permanent damage, and 0.1% would qualify as legally blind today.
Mustard agents was produced in 1822 and its harmful effect only realised in 1860. Injured soldier on eyes and lung during the WW1 and ,many still suffering from chronic respiratory disorder after 30 to 40 yrs.
Mustard due to its characteristic mustard smell. Symptoms of exposure may not appear for minutes, hours, or days.
A pulmonary agent (or choking agent) impede a victim's ability to breathe which then leads to suffocation.
Causes a build-up of fluids in the lungs which then leads to suffocation.
Exposure to the eyes and skin tend to be corrosive, causing blurred vision and severe deep burns.
Breathing in of these agents cause burning the throat, coughing, vomiting, headache, pain in chest, tightness in chest, and may lead to respiratory and circulatory failure.
Bacteria are small single-celled organisms
Under special circumstances, some types of bacteria (eg: bacillus anthracis), which is the causative agent of anthrax, can transform into spores that are resistant to extreme conditions like cold, heat, drying, chemicals and radiation.
Bacteria that case diseases in humans can act in 2 ways:
by invading human tissue or producing poisons and toxins.