Historically, are terrorist acts typically announced by a phone (or other) threat?

[gateley]

Just read this about the Eiffel Tower receiving a threat which turned out to be false.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9133910

Don't these acts generally happen "out of the blue" -- with no specific warning?

Have any threats turned out to be valid?

Just curious if anyone knows, and I don't have time at the moment to visit Google so you don't need to remind me who my friends are.

Thanks.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. There have been phoned in terrorist acts before, yes.

Specific instances escape me.

But it's not like they could just ignore the threat because it was phoned in.

[gateley]

3. Oh - I'd never want them to ignore a threat, so I agree! But it seems that usually

the real acts occur with no forewarning, so it just made me wonder if the threats were anything more than just scaring the people (or whatever the caller's agenda might be).

Some day maybe I'll look into the phoned in threats that actually resulted in an actual act. But as I said, just curious and you answered what I was wondering about -- thanks!

[Xipe Totec]

2. Technically, yes

Since phoning in a false bomb threat is a terrorist act.

[gateley]

4. I didn't know that, but it makes sense. Thanks. nt

[Xipe Totec]

5. Man faces 10 felony charges over B-N bomb threats

BLOOMINGTON -- A Bloomington man accused of making false bomb threats to five Twin City locations faces ten felony charges related to the threats.

Formal charges were entered Thursday against Derrick Van, 28, of the 600 block of South Lee Street. He was held in lieu of $250,000, meaning he must post $25,000 to be released.

A probable cause statement read by Assistant State's Attorney Bruce Zywiec said Van is responsible for making bomb threats over the past several months to the Bloomington Public Library, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and JCPenney and the most recent bomb threats, made Friday to the McLean County Law and Justice Center and Heartland Community College.

A police search of Van's cell phone produced records showing he had placed the calls to the locations listed in charges, said the prosecutor. Police previously have had contact with Van about other false bombs, said Zywiec, but the prosecutor did not provide specifics of those threats.

Van appeared in court via a video link from the county jail for the hearing to set his bond. Judge David Butler denied Van's request for a lower bond. The defendant said he could post about $4,000 and he has hired a lawyer.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_e54db992-b161-11df-9ca8-001cc4c03286.html

I am sure France has laws similar to ours.

[leveymg]

6. The IRA had a codeword so copycats and hoaxers wouldn't empty London banks and office bldgs.

Yes, terrorists use the phone. But, today, the trace is instant.

[Denzil_DC]

8. Hadn't seen your reply, leveymg ;)

[leveymg]

9. You're too late, mate . . BOOM!

:nuke:

[Denzil_DC]

10. Dark!

[leveymg]

11. And, on the lighter side . . .

Sniper kitty's overdone, but this will do. It's been one of those days . . .

[Denzil_DC]

7. The IRA

in Britain very frequently (but not always, especially in the case of rogue cells) called the authorities to give (usually very short) notice of terrorist acts. There were even secret codewords that had been arranged to distinguish them from hoaxes.