2016 Australian school bomb threats

Friday, 29 January 2016 Four schools in Victoria and several schools in New South Wales received bomb threat calls on 29 January 2016. Threats were made against schools in Mona Vale, Woolooware, Richmond, Ulladulla, Lake Illawarra, and Penrith between 10:50am and 11:10am. Several schools were swept by police who declared the calls to be hoaxes, allowing students to return to class by 2:30pm. == Response and investigation ==

Police The police response to the threats was reported by various media outlets as being rapid, extensive, and effective. While no bombs were ever discovered or used, the threats alone led to the evacuation of hundreds of schools and a mass media response and international investigation. Police also played an important role in tracking down both Kadar's identity and whereabouts. The Victoria Police e-crime squad, fraud and cybercrime squad from the New South Wales Police Force and South Australia electronic crime detectives, alongside the Australian Federal Police and other Australian intelligence organisations including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), reportedly played a key role in the international investigation to track down Kadar. According to a police spokeswoman, the Israeli police who arrested Kadar "could not have done it without [the assistance of Victoria Police]". Media The media response to the bomb threats was widespread and immediate. This was evident in the Sydney Morning Herald Article, “Waves of school bomb threats across Australia blamed on overseas hackers”, as it was later discovered that this was not the source of the calls. Government Various government officials both within Australia and overseas spoke out against the calls during the period in which they were delivered. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States attempted to have Kadar extradited following his arrest in Israel, however this request was rejected by Israeli officials. Victorian Education Minister James Merlino stated "these anonymous cowards will feel the full force of the law" when addressing media about the threats. He also stated that tracking down hackers who use the dark web to deliver such threats "isn't an easy area of law enforcement" but reassured the public that the Australian Federal Police were working alongside other state authorities, and with police groups internationally, to track down the perpetrators. Federal Education Minister, Simon Birmingham released statements condoning the quick response by federal and state agencies and authorities in investigating the source of the threats, alongside the Department of Education. == Arrest and sentencing ==

Kadar was arrested in the town of Ashkelon, in Israel, in March 2017. This was following an international investigation led in Australia by the Victoria Police e-crime squad. He was charged with making over 2,000 threats to various locations in various countries around the world and was found guilty in June. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Israeli judge. Kadar's central argument through his case was that many of the calls were made while he was a minor. Evidence was also provided to the Court which attempted to demonstrate that Kadar had a brain tumour that caused autism, as well as other mental problems, and so he should not be held criminally liable or legally competent. Despite this evidence, the judge declared that Kadar had a high IQ and a high understanding of his wrongdoing. Kadar was found guilty of several offences including extortion, disseminating hoaxes in order to spread panic, money laundering and computer hacking. The District Court Judge, Zvi Gurfinkel noted: {{Quote Prior to his sentencing, Kadar was issued a criminal complaint notice in the US State of Florida, seeking his arrest. The complaint described Kadar's offences as 'Making Threatening Interstate Communications' and 'Making Interstate Threats Related to Explosives'. Despite the United States seeking the extradition of Kadar following his arrest in Israel, Israeli authorities chose to prosecute Kadar in Israel instead. == Motive ==

Common motives of bomb threat callers In most cases, the motive of those making bomb threats is to cause disruption. However, bomb threats can also be motivated by political means, or for the purpose of terrorist activities. The threats were made following the Lindt Cafe Siege which took place in 2014, resulting in many Australians being on high alert for terrorist activity when the threats were made, however this was not the case. Kadar's motive Kadar has stated on multiple occasions that he made the threats “out of boredom”. His parents have stated that due to his autism-causing brain tumor, and other mental health problems, he was unable to understand the nature of his action. Their claims were reinforced by the finding by psychiatrists that Kadar is on the autism spectrum. Kadar has stated: {{Quote However, it was also discovered that Kadar offered a private threat-making service online, from which he had accrued approximately $240,000 of earnings. It is unknown whether he was employed by a group to make the threatening calls to Australian schools and has been accepted by the courts that he did so on his own accord. == Related events and threats ==

During the same period when Kadar made threats to Australian schools, he also carried out a number of other attacks on a variety of institutions in other countries. He called and threatened institutions in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark. In early 2017, following the period throughout which the threats were made against Australian schools, a number of bomb threats were made to Jewish community centres in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark by Kadar. Like the threats made against Australian schools, these threats were delivered via computerised messaged, and resulted in widespread panic and evacuations. == Aftermath ==

Following these school bomb threats, literature has been published by Karlene Tipler which outlines the ideal response for schools in a similar situation. This includes the six-stage model proposed by Tipler. The six stages are, 1) alerts; 2) safety behaviours; 3) response actions; 4) student release / family reunification’ 5) temporary school closure; 6) business as usual. The stages are designed to minimize harm and seek to “enhance school safety efforts”. or the ability of schools to benefit and learn from repeated events, by developing alternative methods for responding, and learning lessons from mistakes made. ==See also==