FACTS
- Terrorist bombings remain a significant threat in the United States. However, minimal data exists regarding the medical and public health impact because of bombings.
- Illegal bombings and related injuries commonly occur in the United States. Because of the easy availability of bombing materials, government agencies and healthcare providers should prepare for potential mass-casualty bombings.
- Terrorist bombings continue to remain a risk for local jurisdictions, but retrospective data from the United States show that bombings occur in residential and business areas due to interpersonal violence without political motives.
- Bombs aimed at civilian populations are the most common weapon used by terrorists throughout the world.
STATS
- A total of 1,536 bomb threat incidents were reported in 2016.
- Since 2014, there has been an 33% increase in threats to schools.
- Bomb threats to residences have decreased 35% between 2014 and 2016.
- There were 21,237 (58.8%) explosive bombings, 6,185 (17.1%) incendiary bombings, 1,107 (3.1%) premature bombings, and 7,581 (21.0%) attempted bombings.
- For explosive bombings with known motives, 72.9% of injuries and 73.8% of deaths were because of homicide.
- For incendiary bombings with known motives, 68.2% of injuries were because of extortion and revenge, and 53.5% of deaths were due to homicide.
- Private residences accounted for 29.0% of incidents, 31.5% of injuries, and 55.5% of deaths.
- Government installations accounted for 4.4% of incidents but were the site of 12.7% of injuries and 25.5% of deaths.