Bomb Threats

Each year, bomb threats are reported to universities across the country, including large and open campuses such as UCLA. Any person who receives a bomb threat should take it seriously, should not ignore it, and should immediately contact the UCLA Police Department (UCPD). Each school, department, or unit at UCLA may also have specific procedures in place for responding to bomb threats. Employees are encouraged to consult their department leadership or building facility manager for guidance on any local procedures that may apply.

If you receive a bomb threat, record as much information as possible as quickly and accurately as you can.

Remain calm, listen carefully, and, if possible, ask the questions listed below.

• When is the bomb going to explode?
• Where is the device right now?
• What does the device look like?
• What kind of bomb is it?
• What will cause it to detonate, (e.g., radio signal, and time delay fuse)?
• Did you place the bomb?
• Why was it placed?
• What is your address?
• What is your name?

Please note the following:

• Exact wording of the threat
• Estimate the sex of the caller
• Estimate the race of the caller
• Estimate the age of the caller
• Exact time of call
• Exact words of caller
• The nature/character of the caller’s voice (i.e. loud, soft, angry, fast, slow, nasal, accent)
• The nature of any background noises (i.e. voices, animals, trains, airplanes, music, traffic)
• The language used (i.e. foul, well spoken, taped, message read, irrational)
• After receiving a bomb threat, immediately contact the UCLA Police Department (UCPD) emergency number 9-1-1 and notify your supervisor or department head. After notifying UCPD, you may be asked to conduct a brief visual check of your immediate area to look for suspicious or unfamiliar packages or items. Do not touch or move any suspicious items. Report their location to UCPD.

UCPD will promptly dispatch officers to investigate the threat and will take appropriate police action to protect the safety of the campus community. When appropriate, UCPD may conduct a search of the building or specific areas in coordination with the department head and/or building manager. Following an assessment of the threat, decisions regarding building evacuation or closure will be made jointly, whenever possible, by UCPD and campus leadership.

All bomb threats or reports of suspected explosive devices should be treated as credible until appropriate safety precautions have been taken and the potential threat to life and property has been resolved.