> "The FBI has effectively smashed the hornets' nest," said U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton, "and we are in the process of rounding up and charging the hornets."

They didn't smash it "in the hand". They smashed it. With a hammer. Flame thrower. ICBM. MOAB. Smoke generator and nets.

I could imagine a hundred ways to smash a hornets nest that won't get me hurt in any shape or form... and I could imagine a few that would definitely bite back (like, say, crushing it in the hand without gloves).

Once you get past the imagined "hand" part, it's not a bad analogy since they do have to worry about what part of the "swarm" got away...