U.S. Bomb Data Center
Purpose
The U.S. Bomb Data Center (USBDC) is the sole repository for arson and explosives related incident data, having been established by statute and by authority of the Attorney General of the United States. Its purpose is to collect data and to provide investigators with analytical products to assist in the investigation of the criminal misuse of explosives and acts of arson.
Authority
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been collecting, storing and analyzing records on explosives and arson incidents since 1976. ATF, through the U.S. Department of the Treasury, was mandated by Congress pursuant to Public Law 104-208, the 1997 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, to establish a national repository for incidents involving arson and the criminal misuse of explosives. This authority, as contained in 18 U.S.C. 846(b) and delegated to ATF by the Secretary of the Treasury, was moved with ATF to the authority of the Attorney General of the United States by the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Mission
The mission and goals of the USBDC are to collect, analyze and disseminate timely information and relevant technical intelligence products to internal ATF investigators as well as external state, local, other federal, tribal, military and international partners. These products include not only statistical analyses of current trends and patterns, but also attempt to forecast future criminal activities to assist field elements in preventing the criminal misuse of explosives.
The USBDC maintains the country’s most comprehensive collection of data describing arson and explosives related incidents. The USBDC contains information on more than 180,000 arson and explosives incidents investigated by ATF and other federal, state and local law enforcement and fire investigation agencies.
The USBDC’s Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) is the explosives and arson investigator’s link to the USBDC and all the information that is maintained there. Investigators can use BATS to perform trend analysis and compare incidents for similarities in motives, device components, suspects and crime methodologies for possible investigative leads nationwide. Images of arson scenes, improvised explosive devices and crime scenes can be shared through the BATS secure web connection. Investigators are able to capture details of bomb and arson cases, including the area of origin or device placement, casualties, dollar losses, fire descriptors, collateral crimes, device components and descriptions of how the device was delivered. BATS also includes a functionality that allows investigators to use the program as a case management system, allowing them to build their investigation in BATS, while maintaining critical operational security.
Through the National Explosives Tracing Center (NETC), the USBDC also has the responsibility for tracing and maintaining the official records for the theft and recovery of foreign and domestic commercial explosives, military explosives and ordnance and other munitions. The USBDC maintains a unique set of data associated with the tracing of explosives products from the manufacture to the end user in support of criminal investigations. Building strong partnerships with the Department of Defense and the commercial explosives industry has allowed the USBDC to trace stolen and recovered explosives to their origin, including movement in interstate and international commerce.
Explosives Incidents in the United States
The USBDC has posted the following statistics based upon explosives incidents reported to the USBDC, including bombings, attempted bombings, incendiary bombings and stolen explosives and other categories.
| Year | Number of Incidents | Number of Injuries | Number of Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3445 explosives incidents | 135 injuries | 14 fatalities |
| 2005 | 3722 explosives incidents | 148 injuries | 18 fatalities |
| 2004 | 3790 explosives incidents | 263 injuries | 36 fatalities |
ATF referred 745 investigations for prosecution in 2006 and 741 investigations for prosecution in 2005. ATF referred 688 cases for prosecution in 2004.
For more information on ATF’s programs, please visit the website at www.atf.gov.
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