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Most bomb threats are made over the phone. The overwhelming majority are hoaxes, often the work of malicious pranksters, although terrorists also make hoax calls.

Any such hoax is a crime and, no matter how ridiculous or unconvincing, should be reported to the police.

Calls from terrorists fall into two kinds:

• bomb threats when none has actually been planted. These hoaxes may not be merely malicious but designed to disrupt, to test reactions or to divert attention;
   
• bomb threats warning of a genuine device. These may be attempts to avoid casualties, but they also enable the terrorist to blame others if there are casualties.

Even genuine threats are frequently inaccurate with regard to where and when a bomb might explode, and staff receiving a bomb threat may not always be those trained and prepared for it. But although they may be unable to assess a threat's accuracy or origin, their impressions of the caller could be important.

Receiving such a threat may be the closest that many people ever come to acts of terrorism, so be prepared for affected staff to be temporarily in a state of shock. Affected individuals may need counselling or other support.

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