Below is the Executive Summary regarding the recent email bomb threats sent internationally. Our good friends from Global Guardian shared their threat assessment for situational awareness.
Summary - On 13 December 2018, hundreds of businesses, law enforcement agencies and public services across the United States and Canada received email threats demanding a bitcoin payment of $20,000 in the early afternoon, prompting evacuations, building sweeps and overloading police call centers. What’s more, the bomb threats sewed panic across the continent and undoubtedly defrauded thousands. Global Guardian concurs with many police departments assessment that
the threats were not predicated on credible evidence — no explosive devices have been found
or are likely to be found in the coming hours.
The scale of this mass bomb threat implies that:
(a) The perpetrators commanded serious resources, indicating possible state actors
(b) The motivation was disruption (and possibly showcase capability), rather than monetary gain
Risk Probabilities:
- Materialization of bomb threat – LOW
- Copycat incidents – MEDIUM
We deeply appreciate the support and assistance from Global Guardian. Their full Threat Assessment is linked below:
Global Guardian - Bomb Threat Emails Threat Assessment - 13 December 2018.pdf
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