Following the attack, counterterrorism officials cited this incident as the first time multiple improvised explosive devices were used to inflict mass casualties on U.S. soil. The devices were manufactured using low explosive powder harvested from fireworks and contained in a pressure cooker.

While law enforcement agencies, first responders, and the bombing prevention community have continued to adapt to a changing threat landscape over the years, the threat to the homeland remains. Last year, there was a 54% increase in bomb threats, with open-source reporting identifying 1,474 events, up significantly from the 960 identified in 2021. Additionally, 2,548 explosive-related incidents occurred in 2022.

As the nation mourns the losses of this tragic day, Sean Haglund, Associate Director, CISA Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP), remembered the anniversary. “Ten years ago, Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, and Lingzi Lu lost their lives due to an act of cowardice and terrorism, but their legacy lives on,” he said. “We commend the first responders, law enforcement, and the city of Boston for their strength and resiliency in the aftermath of this attack. Their response exemplifies this nation’s capability to overcome and stand fast in the face of adversity.” 

OBP Senior Policy Advisor Leo Bradley sat down to discuss his firsthand experience responding to this incident and how the bombing prevention community has adapted in the years since.

Q: What was your specific role at the time of the bombing? 

A (Leo): I was the commander of the 61st Ordnance Detachment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. We were responsible for responding to military ordnance for the Army base and calls for assistance from local authorities in the State of Oklahoma and northern Texas. Our unit served as the informal liaison for Fort Sill until appropriate chains of command were established during this event.

This year, in observance of Black History Month, CISA OBP praised Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as other Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), for their ongoing efforts to secure their campuses and facilities. Given last year’s spike in bomb threats against HBCUs and PBIs, CISA OBP applauded the continued work from the Black community to build awareness products, socialize bombing prevention materials, and participate in potentially lifesaving training opportunities.

In testimony before Congress in 2022, CISA OBP Associate Director Sean Haglund reported that CISA had seen a 71% increase in domestic bombing incidents in 2020 (428) over 2019 (251) and a nearly 56% increase in overall explosion incidents since 2015. This data reflects the use of bombs and other explosive devices as an enduring tactic intended to threaten and intimidate a specific population or group. The Black community is no stranger to this threat, having seen nearly 70 bomb threats against HBCUs and PBIs in the first two months of 2022 alone.  

Under the direction of Secretary Mayorkas, the Department committed to “deepen [its] partnerships with HBCUs to protect students and faculty from an evolving range of threats.” This call-to-action spurred CISA OBP to refocus its efforts on expanding the services, resources, and expertise it offers to HBCUs across the country. Among these offerings, CISA OBP developed threat response resources for universities that included trainings, exercises, and incident management guides, as well as hosted in-person, educational forums at five HBCU locations to promote threat awareness. As of February 2023, these efforts trained more than 1,400 participants and delivered 1,500 products.

CISA OBP participated in the Eighth Annual Tribal Nations Training week on March 13-17, 2023 in Anniston, Ala. 

CISA OBP, in collaboration with the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Bomb Squad, recently delivered multiple Train-the-Trainer (TtT) courses in Las Vegas to public safety officials in the region, as well as security professionals from local hotels and casinos. Twenty-one individuals completed the training and are now empowered to deliver or facilitate CISA OBP’s bombing prevention training in their jurisdictions and organizations as part of OBP’s Empowered Trainer Program (ETP). 

The ETP is a counterterrorism TtT program designed to build and enhance counter-IED capabilities to protect, prevent, mitigate, and respond to bombing incidents. This program focuses on developing an enduring capability by producing a training cadre of federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector stakeholders.

In November 2022, CISA OBP’s TRIPwire team successfully migrated their Content Management System from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9. This update enhanced performance, scalability, and security needed for TRIPwire to meet the current demands of the threat environment. More recently, the TRIPwire team enabled PIV card login, simplifying access for all DHS users. The new one-step process bypasses the traditional two-factor login requirement, saving time and improving user experience. 

In February 26, 1993, a cell of seven violent extremists detonated a VBIED on the B-2 level of the World Trade Center (WTC) parking garage. The IED was placed in a rental van and included 1,200 pounds of urea-nitrate explosives, homemade dynamite, and hydrogen gas cylinders.

In the months that followed, it was determined that the terrorists selected the WTC as a target due to their belief that an underground explosion would cause the building to collapse, resulting in the highest possible number of casualties. 

In remembrance of the 30th anniversary in February, CISA OBP hosted a case study briefing and overview of the event. Doug DeLancey, CISA OBP Strategy Branch Chief said, “In the years following the attack, the bombing prevention community has worked towards a whole-of-nation approach to mitigate these incidents and assist localities with acquiring the tools and training needed to recognize and report suspicious behavior.”

Each year, major government agencies come together to create and support the Raven’s Challenge. The exercise is funded by the U.S. Army and led by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense, DHS, and other state and local public safety agencies. 

On March 28, 2023, members from CISA OBP, including Associate Director Sean Haglund, Deputy Branch Chief Jason Stewart, and Section Chief Dean Smith attended the event at Fort AP Hill, Va., to discuss emerging IED threats, witness live range demos, and observe how members who participate in the challenge would benefit from the uniquely tailored training and information sharing environment. 

Three members of the CISA OBP community, recently recognized for achievements in their respective fields, sat down with Homeland Security Today to discuss their accomplishments, emerging threats, and how CISA OBP prevents, protects against, responds to, and mitigates the use of explosives against critical infrastructure, the private sector, and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities.