THREAT TO DETONATE A NUCLEAR BOMB IN WASHINGTON , D.C.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01048A001100020120-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 120
• Publication Date: March 23, 1977
• Content Type: MF

MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
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Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
FROM Cord Meyer, Jr.
SA/DDCI
SUBJECT Threat to Detonate a Nuclear Bomb in
Washington, D.C.
1. For your information, I am forwarding to you as
Attachment A a memorandum from the Director of Security
summarizing the FBI's initial assessment of a threat to
detonate a nuclear bomb in Washington, D.C. Attachment B
is the actual text of the threat received by the FBI and
Attachment C is the judgment of Doctor a
psychiatrist in our Office of Medical Services who specializes
in advising on how to handle terrorist threats.;
2. At this time there seems to be general agreement
that the threat is a hoax.
FBI Review
Completed
c,ia; ti.
Attachments: As stated
CL BY
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23 March 1977
FBI Review
Completed
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for, Administration
FROM: Robert W. Gambino
Director of Security
SUBJECT:
Threat to Detonate Nuclear Bomb in
Washington, D. C.
1. On 23 March 1977 I spoke to 114r. Marty Heffren
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning the FBI's
,analysis of the attached cable.
2. Mr. Heffren advised that the attached cable is
the second threat received by the Bureau concerning; a nuclear
device buried in Washington, D. C. On Friday, 18 March 1977
the Associated Press in New York City passed-to the New York
Field Office of the Bureau a copy of a similar letter. The
FBI is making a Laboratory analysis of both letters. In
.addition, the FBI has been in touch with ERDA and has been
advised that the letter lacks technical information which pre-
cludes ERDA from making any technical judgment. The FBI has
consulted with of Syracuse University, who
suggests that the letter is a hoax being perpetrated by an
activist group, probably middle class, r chief intent is
to embarrass the United States. It is opinion that
the group is seeking publicity and failing to get publicity,
will in all pi obabii ity dispatch additional letters.
4. The Bureau's assessment at this time is that the
sender of the letter is looking for publicity, that the threat
is a hoax, that the lack of information precludes the Bureau
from recommending Nuclear Emergency Search Team Flights and
the FBI will do nothing at this time except to complete the
laboratory analysis of the letters.
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5. DA. of the office of Medical Services,
has seen the attached cable and is of the opinion that the
threat is not a credible one. He believes it is a hoax
being perpetrated by one person or a small number of persons.
Dr.~-~wiil provide you with a written analysis.
Robert W. Gambino
Attachment
- cc: SA/DDCI (Mr. Cord Meyer)
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STAT
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I_Iraf::t?NOWN SUBJECTS S; TO POSSIBLY
PFTr)r4ATF RLLEGED NUCLEAR
EOMP BURIED IN I,IA'r:HINGTOH P. C. ; RECEIVED MARCH 21 ~ 1977, BY r'1AIL.
EXTORTION BOMB THREAT.
Completed
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PAGE TWO TIE PUEHFB ;a0108 I_INCLA'
FBI WASHINGTON FIELD ON MARCH 21, 1977? , ADVI:-:ED:
ON MARCH 21, 1977, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
CFF I )? 12TH AND PENNSYLVANIA A'. ENIJE ? WA::H I NGTON? D.C. (WDC:) ,
RECEIVED A LETTER POSTMARKED "WASHINGTON, TI. C. , 200, 1 P.M."
ON MARCH 17, 1977, STATING THAT UNLESS SIX DEMANDS ARE MET,
AN UNNAMED GROUP WOULD DESTROY THE CITY.
THE TEXT OF THE ME:=::=:AGE IS AS FOLLOWS:
"TO THE ECONOMIC DICTATORS OF' THE UNITED STATES:
"THE DAY YOU HAVE FEARED HAS ARRIVED---YOUR OWN WEAPONS
^F TERROR AND DESTRUCTION ARE GOING TO BE USED AGA I NST YOU---
bIE PRESENTLY HAVE A .MALL. ARMED. AND READY TO FIRE NUCLEAR
BOMB BURIED IN THE P ISTR I CT OF COLUMBIA LINI_ESS THE ACCOMPANYING
DEMANDS ARE PROMPTLY PUBLICIZED AND MET, WE WILL DESTROY
THIS CITY.
"WE ARE NOT KNOWN TO YOU---WE ARE NOT FANATICAL
TERROR I :=?:T:S---IdE RECOGNIZE .THE LAW THAT YOU LIVE BY---THAT
POLITICAL POKIER I S DEPENDENT ^N I.dEAPOHRY"--WE INTEND TO USE
THE POWER WE HAVE NOW Aci-'U I RED TO THE UTMf?':T.
"THE POPULATION OF WASHINGTON NEED HOT FEAR FOR THEIR
LIVES---.OE HAVE NO INTENTION TO HARM INNOCENT CITIZENS---
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PHUEFDHFEPEPSNWHAF, 061 MLJNGQ FIE FIVE DRY I.IHRr?i i rir, THROUGH
T iE PIE":"`.
ODD NOT COURT DISASTER BY TAKING THIS WC,RM I HG LIGHTLY---
ME MILL NOT HE: I THTE TO CARRY ^i IT TH I THREAT---THE DE:.:TR IC:T I Dri
^F A SINGLE AMERICAN CITY I S MOTH I N9'''c:QMPARFD TO THE SYSTEMATIC.
MISERY AND DESTRUCTION. WHICH THIS S'i':'`TEM BPI LAGS DAILY TO THE
PEOPLES OF SOUTHEAST A:.: I A, AFP I C:A, :.:nIiTH iMFR T C:A ? AND TO THE
BL. AC :K ! LATIN AMER I C:AN:s+ AND POOR WORKERS OF ALL RACE =: I hi
THIS COUNTRY., WE CONSIDER THIS A MORAL THREAT TO END H FAIR
GREATER DISORDER IN THE WORLD. ,yy
"DO NOT FORCE US TO MAKE A . UK'EADFUL DEMONSTRATION OF OUR
5ER I ^US _.I LATENT---SDME.:. WOULD .. SURELY 'DIE---PF OPEP:TY LOSS WOULD
RE GREAT---AND THE IMPACT OF RADIOACTIVITY ON THE EASTERN
COAST WOULD BE IMMENSE. SHOULD WE BE FORCED TO DD 50,
WE HAVE ANOTHER DEVICE CONSTRUCTED WHICH C:Ar"a BE ASSEMBLED
T N ANY OTHER AMERICAN CITY ---AND WE HA'v'E ENOUGH PLUTONIUM
STORED TO REPEAT THIS PROCESS.
"IF THESE DEMANDS ARE NOT PUBLICIZED WITHIN ONE WEEK
(BY N ED MAR 23`' OR I F CONCRETE STEPS TO T mP'I _FMENT THEM ARE
NOT P'I_IBL I C I ZED WITHIN ONE MONTH (APRIL 16) YOU WILL RECEIVE
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 PAGE FOUR DE RUEHFB 00108 UNC:LA:-:
THEREAFTER YOUR FIVE DAYS: NOTICE ^F THE T-FATPHi:T I ^N .
"I. ALL FAMILIES I N THE U.S. ^WN T NG OR CONTROLLING MORE
.THAN `I+1Qo, 000 IN CAPITAL SHALL BE DIVESTED lF THEIR, HfU_OTn-c?1?.
TT IS IMMORAL FOR A SINGLE FAMILY, :-:IJCH AS THE ROCK:EFELLER:,
TO OWN AND CONTROL MORE WEALTH THAN ALL THE BLACKS I N AMERICA
PUT TOGETHER. WE HOLD THIS TO BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT
CAUSE OF POVERTY IN AMERICA AND THE 10RUD.
ALL MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS WITH HEADQUARTERS IN
I I. THE I_I:?': SHALL BE REORGANIZED TO BE DIRECTED BY BOARDS -=:HOSEN
i. FROM THE I!IORKERS OF THOSE CORPORATIONS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC
IN AREAS OF THE WORLD THEY AFFEi:.T.
": ALL NATIONAL MEDIA---NEWSPAPER, .MAGAZINES, TELEVISION,
AMP RADIO---SHALL BE REORGANIZED ^N THE SHME BASIS.
N. . THE TRILATERAL COUNCIL SHALL.. BE IMMEDIATELY DISBANDED---
SOME SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE ORGANIZATION SHALL BE SET UP FROM
THE GENERAL POPULATION TO DETERMINE AMERICA" T ECONOMIC, MILITARY,
AND POLITICAL POLICIES. THIS "SECRET GOVERNMENT" ^F THE US9
COMPOSED OF CORPORATE; M I L I TAR'T', AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS HAS
PROVEN ITS INABILITY TO WORK I N THE BE'r:T T NTEREST _: OF THE PEOPLE
OF THE WORLD.
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PAGE FIVE LIE PUEHF t, v0108 LEI it L I t
RELEH:-:E OF ALL' AMERICAN POL. I T T C-=1I. OF' I SONEF':=:, AND
PAROLE REVIEW. FOP ALL BLACKS AND MINORITIES HELD FOR I NORD-
I NHTEL'r LONG TERMS I N JAILS. PRESIDENT CARTER MUST STOP H I S
"
H'r'F'OC0I T I CAL. CHARADE OF "HUMAN FIGHT :-: ACTIVISM.
"6. THIS NOTICE AND THESE DEMAND'S -:HAL.L. BE PRINTED AND
.:TATED VERBATIM IN THE MEDIA OF THE IJ'S.
THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THF'-'F DEMANDS APE
NEGOTIABLE; BUT THE SUBSTANCE OF THEM I S HfT.
"WE MUST .?:TATE. THAT WE WORK I N THE I NTFRE'ST :: OF NO FOREIGN
POIWIEF' . . WE RECOGNIZE THE NEC:E:: : I T'?r FOR A ?BALHNC:F OF POWER IN
? THE WOR'LD? BUT I T MUST BE CONTROLLED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'
AND NOT BY GREED CORRUPTED MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS.
"I,IE HAVE SERIOUSLY ANTICIPATED THAT yn' MILL FORCE LI'.:
INTO A SHOWDOWN OF FORCE IN THIS MATTER. LET U:_: REITERATE
THAT ME WILL NOT HE:.:ITATE TO DE:STRO`i' -THE_ HFADOUAR'TERS ^F THE
C: I A, THE FBI P THE PENTAGON. AND THE WA =:H I NGTOti OFFICES
OF THE MI.ILTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS IN A SINGLE BLOW.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE DECLARED WAR AGAINST THE PEOPLES ^F
THE WORLD, ANTS WE WILL FIGHT THEM MITW ALL PUP STRENGTH.
ME HOPE YOU WILL PI:5.:APOINT THESE E:X;PE_CTATIOHS BY PROMPT
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PAGE 1:> IIE P.'I_IEHFB :01 its I INC:LA:-:
PUBLICATION OF THESE IIEMANII:': AND AN OPEN WITH
THE PUBLIC OF THIS COQ INTRY ABOUT THE I F' IMPLEMENTATION.
"COPIES: TO: MR. CARTER; FBI; CIA; NEb.I '?1'ORK TIME:-:;
61A:7:HINI3TOt?1 POST; .JACK ANDERSON; LONDON OBSER'.~FF; LONDON
TIMES; F'EUTEF'S NEW:--s AGENCY; UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL;
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PRE::-:. "
THE ASSOCIATED PRE:=::-:? NEI.sI YORK:;. HFLI YORK, RECEIVED A
SIMILAR LETTER ON MARCH 1977? WHICH !CIA::: TURNED O'v'ER TO THE
FBI ? NEW YORK CITYAND HAS BEEN TRAN:-:M I TTED TO THE FBI
LABORATORY FOR, EXAMINATION.
BT
a: fl 1 i_I._
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23 March 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. Robert W.. Gambino
Director of Security
Chairman, Office of Medical Services
Task Force on Counterterrorism
Mr. Cord Meyer
Special Assistant/Deputy Director of
Central Intelligence(SA/DDCI)
SUBJECT Nuclear Threat to Washington, D.C.
1. As I indicated to you in our telephone conversation
of today, Mr. Cord Meyer, SA/DDCI showed the this morning
a, communication threatening nuclear destruction of
Washington, D.C. unless certain demands are met. My
tentative assessment is that it is a hoax.
2. The message appears to be written by one
individual or a small group. The demands and conditions
are rather primitive; clearly the demands.cannot be
met, and the deadlines are very loose, Although
negotiations are referred to, no means for implementing
them are spelled out. There are certain catch words
such as multinational corporation" and "secret
government" which lead me to believe that this threat
was inspired by previous events' and that the perpetrator
is seeking attention in order to relieve pent-up.
frustrations.
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