Recent bomb threats share highly similar wording

Recent bomb threats sent to institutions and businesses have used highly similar wording and may have been sent automatically, Reykjavík City security expert Eyþór Víðisson told mbl.is.

Police informed the city that similar threats had been received elsewhere, Eyþór said. The messages use standardised wording and contain little specific information.

One kindergarten run by the City of Reykjavík received a threat, he said. Its manager contacted police immediately and followed their instructions. Police assessed the threat as not credible, and no special security measures were considered necessary. The kindergarten’s operations were not disrupted.

The city shared information about the threat internally within minutes, then passed police guidance to managers at its workplaces as a precaution. The aim was to ensure they knew how to respond if similar threats reached other locations.

Eyþór said staff are not expected to search specifically for bombs. Rather, they should know their surroundings and notice unfamiliar items, such as bags, sacks or packages, that do not belong at their workplace. They should not touch or move such items, but alert police and follow their instructions.

He emphasised staff safety and said no one would be asked to do anything they did not feel able to do. The first response to a bomb threat should be to contact police, who will assess the situation and decide what happens next.