False Alarms, Real Chaos: Preparing Your Organization for External Threat Disruptions

Recent events across Canada have placed a renewed spotlight on the critical need for organizations to prepare for bomb threats, swatting incidents, and other external security threats. These are not abstract concerns—they are real disruptions with the potential to grind business operations to a halt, provoke public panic, and expose your organization to serious reputational and physical risks.

In earlier parts of our Suspicious Incident Awareness series, we emphasized the role of front-line staff and internal vulnerabilities. In this installment, we shift our focus to external factors—those threats that originate outside your organization, but have a direct and sometimes devastating impact on your operations.

Swatting and Bomb Threats: A Growing Concern

One of the most concerning developments is the rise in swatting—the act of fabricating high-risk emergencies (such as active shooters or bomb threats) to provoke an armed police response. While this term was once reserved for online gaming retaliation or celebrity pranks, it has evolved into a disruptive tactic affecting Canadian schools, hospitals, public venues, and commercial businesses.

These threats are designed to:

• Cause panic or fear among staff and the public

• Trigger lockdowns, evacuations, or SWAT responses

• Interrupt business continuity and emergency preparedness plans

• Exploit gaps in coordination between security, emergency services, and staff

Even if the threat is unfounded, the operational and emotional impact is real.

Copycat and Coordinated Threats

After high-profile swatting incidents or public emergencies, organizations often face copycat threats within hours or days. These can range from emailed bomb threats to suspicious packages or hoax calls. Whether genuine or fabricated, every incident must be treated seriously and investigated thoroughly—a process that consumes time, staff, and resources.

Preparedness Is Protection

Organizations cannot control the actions of external actors, but they can control their preparedness. A well-executed emergency response plan, practiced through drills and tabletop exercises, can make the difference between confusion and control.

Security and operations leaders should consider the following;

• Bomb threat and suspicious package protocols are up to date and rehearsed

• All front-line and supervisory staff are trained to recognize and report suspicious behaviours

• Communication protocols with police, fire, and EMS are pre-established

• Lockdown, evacuation, and shelter-in-place procedures are established, well understood and practiced

• Consider regular communication with public safety and emergency response agencies

• Sharing intelligence with co-located or neighbouring organizations

• Include HR, facilities, and IT teams in your proactive planning to identify emerging risks

• Continue to review recent local and national threat trends (bomb threats, protests, cyber disruptions)

Additionally, don’t overlook internal threats. Disgruntled employees, former staff, or contractors with grievances can also pose risk. Ontario employers have a legal duty under the OHSA to address workplace violence and harassment—from both internal and external sources.

Final Word

The threat of swatting or bomb hoaxes may seem distant—until it happens to your organization. What was once considered rare is now part of a growing pattern of security-related disruptions across Canada.

Advance planning won’t eliminate the threat—but it can mitigate the impact, protect your people, and restore business operations faster.

National Life Safety Group is a recognized Engineering firm that specializes in Fire Code, Safety, Physical Security and emergency Management.  We work closely with clients to strengthen their risk management posture in creating resilient facilities to protect people, assets and reputations.