BETWEEN 1972 AND 1976 IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, THERE WERE 171 BOMB THREATS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. SEVERAL EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN OF THE TYPES OF THREATS MADE -TELEPHONE CALLS ORDERING THE EVACUATION OF A BUILDING BECAUSE AN AUTOMOBILE OUTSIDE IS TO EXPLODE, OR A NOTE THREATENING THE BOMBING OF A TELEVISION STATION BECAUSE IT DID NOT BROADCAST A SOCCER GAME. WHEN THE POLICE BECOME AWARE OF A BOMB THREAT, THEY ARE FIRST CONCERNED WITH THE QUESTIONS OF WHO MADE THE THREAT, WHEN, AND WHY. IF THEY CAN FIND OUT WHY THE THREAT WAS MADE, THEY MAY HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHETHER IT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. IF THEY DETERMINE THAT IT SHOULD BE, THE NEXT MATTER TO CONSIDER IS WHAT TYPE OF PERSONNEL AND TECHNICAL RESOURCES ON THE PART OF THE POLICE SHOULD BE USED. SOME GUIDELINES ARE OFFERED FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF A THREAT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NO THREAT AUTOMATICALLY BE CONSIDERED TOO FAR-FETCHED OR IMPOSSIBLE SOUNDING TO BE CARRIED OUT. ONE MUST NEXT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO PLANT A BOMB MUST FIRST OBTAIN THE EXPLOSIVES, KNOW HOW TO PUT THE BOMB TOGETHER, AND BE ABLE TO PLANT IT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT IS TO GO OFF. EXPLOSIVES ARE NOT DIFFICULT TO STEAL; HOWEVER, IT DOES TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CRIMINAL 'EXPERTISE' TO DO SO. THIS NECESSITY DOES LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO COULD COMMIT THE CRIME OF PLANTING A REAL BOMB. THUS SOME THREATS CAN BE IMMEDIATELY WRITTEN OFF AS BLUFFS; FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN A TELEVISION ANNOUNCER SAYS THAT INSTEAD OF A SOCCER MATCH, THE SUNDAY SERMON WILL BE BROADCAST, AND A BOMB THREAT IS RECEIVED SOON AFTERWARDS, IT IS MOST LIKELY AN IRATE VIEWER EXPRESSING DISPLEASURE -- A BLUFF. THE THREATENER HAS NOT HAD THE TIME TO MAKE ALL OF THE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS TO PLANT AN ACTUAL BOMB. THUS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF HOW SERIOUSLY TO CONSIDER A BOMB THREAT CAN BE STATED AS FOLLOWS: THE THREAT MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IF A REVIEW OF ALL OF THE FACTS (WHY THE THREAT HAS BEEN MADE, WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PREPARATIONS COULD HAVE BEEN MADE, ETC.) SHOWS THAT BY EXPERIENCE, THE THREAT ACTUALLY COULD BE CARRIED OUT. IF THE THREAT IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THE PRECAUTIONARY AND OTHER MEASURES OUTLINED IN PART I OF THE ARTICLE ARE TO BE FOLLOWED. POLICE ARE ALSO ADVISED TO BE ESPECIALLY WARY OF GIVING INFORMATION TO THE PRESS, BECAUSE OF THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE WILL HEAR ABOUT THE SPECTACULAR ATTENTION PAID TO ONE THREAT AND WILL SEEK TO IMITATE IT. FOR PART I, SEE NCJ-45368. -- IN GERMAN. (VDA)