If you saw a suspect package, what would you do?

[KissyLittleMissy]

I was very frightened a year back when i was sitting at Halifax train station and i saw a brown package left under a bench, i was with a couple of mates and one of them spoke to a security man or train worker:puzzled: and told him and they had to clear the area, oh god i was so scared:bawling: i dont think i have ever been so scared in my life and it was actually nothing at all but a mistaken left piece of luggage - no bomb thankfully:thumbs:

i guess this is what we have to think nowadays, any unattended package or suitcase or anythin might be a bomb and that is so frightening. you go to alton towers and there is metal detectors that you have to pass through befor you get into the park so my friend told me and we live in that society now and if i see anythin i just assume it might be a bomb

is anyone else feeling like this and what would you do in that serious moment? would you go up to a left package and investigate yourself or would you run and leave it or call the police

[Mrluvaluva]

You should never investigate an abandoned package yourself. Let the authorities deal with it. It may not be a bomb, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

[Sunny_01]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
You should never investigate an abandoned package yourself. Let the authorities deal with it. It may not be a bomb, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Spot on there Baz, no point in any of us trying to be heroic.

[KissyLittleMissy]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
You should never investigate an abandoned package yourself. Let the authorities deal with it. It may not be a bomb, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

i would defo take your advice and there are signs all over bout suspect packages and no way man would i go near but some take that risk anyroads and that is scary or brave or stupid in my opinion

[Mrluvaluva]

Stupid really. If it was a device and they set it off, how many lives could be taken through their foolishness?

[KissyLittleMissy]

at school once there was a lad who told me bout a package which was near a phonebox and for a joke his mate wrote (BOMB) in big letters on the box and he heard in his local paper next day that the area had to be evacuated while the bomb squad moved in - that is really nasty:sad: specially how people feel today

[Mrluvaluva]

Waste of money, time and resources and such a silly thing to do.

[KissyLittleMissy]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
Waste of money, time and resources and such a silly thing to do.

i agree, what was a childish prank is an accident waiting to happen. i think it would be a serious offence for someone to write (BOMB) on an unattended package/suitcase? i dont know what the police would charge someone over this. i mean they didnt put it there but they just wrote (BOMB) on it which is very careless and stupid but perhaps an area in the law which has been missed

[Mrluvaluva]

I think there are laws on incidents such as this one and they are very harsh. I think for someone so young though, they would be seriously reprimanded for wasting police time.

[KissyLittleMissy]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
I think there are laws on incidents such as this one and they are very harsh. I think for someone so young though, they would be seriously reprimanded for wasting police time.

there prob is? there maybe some on a legal internet site or somethin:puzzled: but im not lookin that would take for ages i bet. but for someone under the age of 16 i guess they would just get a reprimand like you say and told how bad it is

[Sunny_01]

the new ant-terrorism laws would cover this type of thing, and would be taken very seriously

[Retroman]

It makes me laugh...
A few years ago people would have tried to steal a mysterious package and find out what's in it. Now people think they're all bombs and stay away.

Better to be safe than sorry of course, but package at train station = not always a bomb. Hardly ever a bomb infact. Very few cases of bombs, millions if not billions of cases that are just lost items.

If you saw a suitcase in a hotel, would you alert people? if you saw a box on the floor at a music gig, would it really concern you? Being scared of random items in your local train station is just what terrorists/suicide bombers would want.

On the subject of train stations, being told not to forget any items you've got with you is an annoying announcement. People who leave Ipods on chairs, suitcases on the floor, mobile phones on the bench..deserve to lose them!

[Jackie]

If i saw a suspect package i would alert the police.Better to be safe than sorry.

[Shaun]

I would scream.

Alternatively, I'd just avoid it...although if I saw just a normal suitcase on a platform or something, I don't think I'd do anything - I don't live near any huge train/bus stations, so I doubt anyone would plant a bomb down here. So I think I'd just leave it.

[Jack_Crossitt]

I would report it right away. Any unattended luggage or packages should be reported in any public place where people could be at risk - especially in big cities, towns which is where bombs generally get left. London is mainly their target from what we hear. If you live in London and see something left in a station, i'd be worried and think it may be a bomb. But for Halifax station I would be less worried personally, it's hardly a good target.

[Sticks]

During the time of the troubles in Ulster, we had an unmarked package from Northern Ireland through the letter box. Mum wanted to put it in a bucket of water and rang dad at work. He was in the MOD at the time. As he was bomb officer for the building he told her not to do so, as that could set an IED off.

It was removed to the bottom of the garden.

In the end it turned out to be my brothers watch back from repair.

When I was in the MOD as part of our security briefing we were instructed that the protocol for recording IED's on cars was to ring 999 ask for the police, identify yourself as an MOD official and report the device.

From my archives I have this



Recognition of suspicious packages


Signs to look out for
[list]
Smell of marzipan
Package unevenly weighted
Evidence of wires, either in or out of the package
Grease marks on the package
Addressed to a non existent person, or a person no longer present
No return address
[/list

If you receive a package with any combination of these signs, treat as suspicious

When dealing with a suspicious package

1. Do Not open it
2. Clear the room
3. Call 999, ask for the police and report a suspicious package



For telephoned bomb warnings



Telephoned Bomb threats

Any person receiving a bomb threat telephone call should take note of the following

(1) Let the person finish his message without interruption
(2) Whilst the caller is talking write down the message exactly
(3) Noticeable conditions affecting speech such as drunkenness, laughter, anger, excitement, incoherence.
(4) Particularities of speech such as foreign accent, mispronunciation, speech impediment, tone and pitch of voice.
(5) Background noises audible during the call, such as music, traffic, talking, machinery

After the caller has given his message, try to keep him in conversation. If possible, ask the following key questions.

(1) Where is the device located ?
(2) What time will the device explode ?
(3) When was it placed ?
(4) Why was it placed ?

Write the message down Immediately during the call, noting also the time it was received, then inform a senior member of staff.

Do not evacuate to the assembly point until it has been confirmed as safe to do so.

[Conor]

Someone got arrested from Belfast international airport over the sumer for shouting 'I've got a bomb' in departures. The security gaurd was so angry and swore at him then told him if he ever shouted it again he'd kill him (obviously not literaly) The airport was guarded by the army 24/7 during the troubles and every car was inspected for bombs before entering airport grounds.

It must have been so scary for people going on holiday, thank goodness I wasn't born when the worst of the troubles sparked.

[Harry!]

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!