The U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Justices Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have announced a new pilot program calledOperation Flashpoint to build awareness in communities across the U.S. about how to prevent bomb attacks.

At the pilots launch recently CISA and FBI officials highlighted the threat posed by domestic violent extremists and others who can build improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from common household items found at retail stores across the country. Approximately 250,000 businesses in the U.S. sell, use or distribute materials that can be used to build bombs.

IEDs pose a significant threat in the U.S. In 2020 alone, there were 2,061 total bomb threat, suspicious package and device-related incidents across the nation, according to CISAs Office for Bombing Prevention TRIPwire report. Major bombings can cause mass casualty events and cost hundreds of millions of dollars or more.

The 90-day Operation Flashpoint pilot, which will include events in other cities including Columbia, S.C., Louisville, and Orlando, encourages businesses and the public to voluntarily report suspicious activities, such as buying large amounts of chemicals and materials (or a combination of these) that can be used to build bombs.

Operation Flashpoint is a major milestone in implementing U.S. policy to thwart bomb threats, said Dr. David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director for CISAs Infrastructure Security Division.It shows the strong unity in the federal government, between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, to safeguard citizens and critical infrastructure.