NCJ Number
196172
Editor(s)
Latonya O. Gadson,
Melody Lynn Michael,
Regina P. Perrin,
Nancy Walsh
Date Published
1996
Length
26 pages
Annotation
Following an overview of the responsibilities and activities of the Bomb Data Center (BDC), this report presents an overview of 1996 statistics on bombing incidents in the United States.
Abstract
The BDC began as the National Bomb Data Center in 1970. It oversees the technical training of all public safety, bomb disposal personnel at the Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, Alabama. In direct support of the FBI's domestic and international terrorism programs, the BDC also provides field training in bombing investigations and explosive device recognition. The BDC collects and reports bombing information to public safety agencies, elected officials, and other interested parties. The BDC operates as a clearinghouse for information on bombing incidents, conducts research and development for safe procedures and technical equipment for bomb disposal personnel, and provides explosive-related technical support for special events. For 1996, 2,573 bombing incidents were reported to the BDC, a slight decrease from the incidents reported in 1995 (2,577). The use of explosives accounted for 76 percent of the incidents, with the remaining 24 percent involving the use of incendiary materials. Twenty-seven percent of the bombings were unsuccessful, in that the devices did not function as designed. Injuries from bombings in 1996 increased 33 percent from 1995, excluding the 518 people injured in Oklahoma. Bombs killed 23 people in 1996, lower than 1995 because of the Oklahoma City bombing. Property damage from bombings in 1996 amounted to $5 million. With the exclusion of the Oklahoma City damages, this amount was a slight decrease from 1995. Information is also provided on recoveries of improvised devices and military ordinance, as well as hoaxes. Extensive tabular and graphic data