The Role of the Bystander in Preventing a Targeted Attack

which researched incidents of planned attacks in our schools. The SSI studied 37 incidents of targeted attacks in American schools and concluded that there were important key findings which indicated that future attacks can be prevented. Importantly, perpetrators exhibited behaviors prior to the attack that were of concern to others in 93 % of the cases and others had prior knowledge of the perpetrator’s plans in 81% of the cases. Of those with prior knowledge (bystanders), 93 % were peers of the perpetrator. Although this study only involved a small number of participants, its results indicate the important role that bystanders can play in thwarting future attacks. Key Findings Relationships between attackers and bystanders varied from friends and acquaintances to family members and others. Most were friends and most received their information directly from the perpetrator. Most heard of the attacks days or weeks before the attack took place. Bystanders differed in their willingness to come forward with information. Although some shared their information easily, others did so only with prodding from adults or did not share at all. Only 4% of the bystanders attempted to dissuade the attackers from their plans. School climate plays an important role in the bystander’s decision to come forward with information