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The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and National Counterterrorism Center Jan. 12 reported ongoing bomb threats by malicious actors targeting synagogues, Jewish community centers, schools, hospitals, airports, government buildings and other public institutions in the United States. Many of the messages contain similar wording and were sent using publicly available encrypted email tools. The agencies to date have not identified actual explosive devices at the threatened locations but encourage victims to retain all information regarding incidents and immediately report them to the FBI.

“Although all of these primarily email threats have been determined to be hoaxes, all must be taken seriously,” said John Riggi, AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk. “Local law enforcement should be contacted immediately upon receipt of any threat communications for evaluation and disposition of the threat. Your local FBI should also be advised of the threats for tracking and investigative purposes. Although there are no known specific credible bombing threats targeting hospitals and health systems, all should remain vigilant and engage in threat information exchange with local law enforcement authorities on a regular basis.”

For more information on this or other cyber and risk issues, contact Riggi at jriggi@aha.org. For the latest cyber and risk resources and threat intelligence, visit aha.org/cybersecurity.