SUZANNE BELLING
At the end of last month, the Jewish Museum in Sydney was evacuated after staff received bomb threats.
Juan Thompson, who allegedly made eight of the bomb threats to Jewish institutions in the US, has been arrested. The Anti-Defamation League has called the wave of anti-Semitic acts “unprecedented”.
In the wake of these often co-ordinated threats, the Community Security Organisation (CSO) says that South Africans need to learn lessons from this. It is very possible that local Jewish organisations and institutions could be targeted.
“It is critical never to dismiss [these threats] as a hoax,” said Jevon Greenblatt, operations director of the CSO in Johannesburg.
“More Jewish institutions need to ensure physical security and make sure that no unauthorised people can gain access to their premises.”
It should be noted that most Jewish organisations already have well-established links with the CSO and have appropriate measures in place.
Although thankfully the threats overseas have not materialised locally, Greenblatt said: “Clearly this is a growing trend affecting Jewish installations around the world. We must all be prepared to handle the situation should it arise in South Africa.”
The CSO urges members of the Jewish community to plan and prepare for such an eventuality; develop a bomb threat response protocol specific to each facility, including well-practised evacuation planning.
“Ensure that all staff, especially those who answer phones, are trained in handling these situations. Ensure that your physical security, training of guards and procedures are adequate. Ensure that all are aware of their surroundings, so they can easily identify something or someone that is out of place.”
Greenblatt says most bomb threats are received by phone and are serious until proven otherwise.
“Remain calm. Keep the caller on the line for as long as possible. Do not hang up, even if the caller does. Listen carefully and try to keep the caller talking to learn further information.”
Greenblatt suggests, if possible, to write a note to a colleague who can call the authorities during the call and, as soon as the caller hangs up, follow this up with your own notification.
If the phone has a display or caller identification, copy the number or letters shown on the window.
Immediately on termination of the call, from a different phone contact 08618 000 18. Give all the information possible and await instructions.
The CSO has issued a bomb threat checklist, with a list to help identify and remember a caller.
- If a bomb threat is received via a handwritten note, handle the note as little as possible.
- Should the bomb threat be received by e-mail, call the CSO control room and do not delete the message.
- Do not use two-way radios or cell phones, as radio signals have the potential to detonate a bomb.
- Do not touch or move a suspicious package. Signs of such a package are no return address; excessive postage; stains; strange odour or sounds emanating from the package; unexpected delivery; poor handwriting; misspelled words; incorrect titles; and foreign postage.
Greenblatt emphasises the importance of notifying the CSO of all suspicious calls.
For all regions except Cape Town, call 086 18 000 18. For Cape Town, call 086 18 911 18
