![]() ![]() The remainder of this report highlights key incidents and trends based on this data from 2020. This information is sourced from local, state, and national media outlets, as well as public records. In order to provide key stakeholders with timely information, given the fragmented and delayed nature of official reporting, RaySecur actively tracks events in the public-domain, providing up-to-date information in our Threat Data Center. ![]() In addition, 715 explosion incidents, of which 251 were classified as bombings, occurred in 2019, resulting in 78 injuries and 16 fatalities. Of these, approximately 1,202 incidents involved letters or parcels and another 910 incidents were not categorized. Similarly, the United States Bomb Data Center reported 5,482 suspicious or unattended package incidents in 2019, consistent with the average over the past 5 years. The USPIS Dangerous Mail Investigations Units consist of over 400 federal agents responsible for responding to incidents involving mailings including suspicious and hazardous substances, including chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive items.Īlthough official 2020 numbers have yet to be released from the United States Postal Inspection Service, over 125,000 suspicious mail items were sent for forensics analysis in the previous year, with inspectors responding to over 3,289 incidents involving suspicious items, powders, or liquids sent in the mail. Combined, they depict an evolving threat picture that requires attention, planning, and security measures. When viewed individually, these threats appear as one-off incidents. Legitimate mail attacks sent innocent bystanders and first responders to hospitals for exposure to threats such as fentanyl, ricin, and explosive devices. Whether a hoax or real, these threats force losses in revenue, time, and the sense of security, and highlight the often-unnecessary exposure to risks. Of these threats, white powders were the most prevalent found in 38% of dangerous mail items.īeyond the statistics, the dangerous mail incidents covered in this report span entire organization shutdowns to home evacuations. presidential elections permeated political news coverage through most of the summer months, and the poison ricin was mailed to the White House in September.īased on the aggregate data compiled from the public-domain sources in 2020, 95% of dangerous mail attacks involved letters or parcels small enough to fit in a curbside drop box – highlighting the vulnerabilities posed by small items with an unknown chain of custody. In May, following a series of layoffs, Subway’s corporate headquarters was shut down due to a letter containing white powder.Ĭontroversy surrounding mail-in ballots in the 2020 U.S. Following the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring, the US saw a wave of unidentified seeds mailed from China. The year began with a spate of letter bombs sent to banks and key political figures in the Netherlands. ![]() The objective of this report is to summarize key statistics from official data sources to frame the problem, while also providing accurate and timely information on recent and evolving threats.Ģ020 was a record year for suspicious and dangerous mail incidents in the news. While official government data sources provide a historical view of both the prevalence and magnitude of dangerous mail threats, the publication of official statistics typically lags actual incidents by 6-12 months. In addition to individual incidents, USPIS reports over 125,000 suspicious mail items processed through federal forensics labs in the same year. On average this corresponds to approximately 25 suspicious and potentially dangerous incidents per day.
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