FACTS

1. Terrorist bombings remain a significant threat in the United States. However, minimal data exists regarding the medical and public health impact because of bombings.
2. Illegal bombings and related injuries commonly occur in the United States. Because of the easy availability of bombing materials, government agencies and healthcare providers should prepare for potential mass-casualty bombings.
3. Terrorist bombings continue to remain a risk for local jurisdictions, but retrospective data from the United States show that bombings occur in residential and business areas due to interpersonal violence without political motives.  
4. Bombs aimed at civilian populations are the most common weapon used by terrorists throughout the world. 

STATS

• A total of 1,536 bomb threat incidents were reported in 2016.
• Since 2014, there has been an 33% increase in threats to schools.
• Bomb threats to residences have decreased 35% between 2014 and 2016.
• There were 21,237 (58.8%) explosive bombings, 6,185 (17.1%) incendiary bombings, 1,107 (3.1%) premature bombings, and 7,581 (21.0%) attempted bombings. 
• For explosive bombings with known motives, 72.9% of injuries and 73.8% of deaths were because of homicide. 
• For incendiary bombings with known motives, 68.2% of injuries were because of extortion and revenge, and 53.5% of deaths were due to homicide. 
• Private residences accounted for 29.0% of incidents, 31.5% of injuries, and 55.5% of deaths. 
• Government installations accounted for 4.4% of incidents but were the site of 12.7% of injuries and 25.5% of deaths.