In 1905, a series of false reports of anarchist bomb plots swept across Europe and the United States, fueling a moral panic about political violence and the threat of revolution. The panic, which was stoked by sensationalist newspapers, led to widespread fear, crackdowns on labor activists, and increased surveillance, despite the fact that many of the plots were exaggerated or entirely fabricated. The event reflected the anxieties of an era marked by labor unrest and radical political movements.

The phantom anarchist bomb panic has been referenced in literature that explores the politics of fear and the power of the media to shape public perception. Writers such as Joseph Conrad and Henry James depicted the anxieties of the era in their works, while poets have used the panic to critique the repression of dissent and the manipulation of public opinion. The event also serves as a historical backdrop for literary explorations of terrorism, revolution, and the fragility of social order.