2.5. PERSON BORNE SUICIDE IED s The use of person borne suicide IEDs has become a regular occurrence in some modern conflicts. As with all suicide devices they provide an armed group with an instrument of warfare that can move, think and respond to the immediate situation in order to ensure maximum impact by initiating it at the optimum moment and location. Person borne suicide IEDs can be used in either a covert manner, well concealed in order to evade detection and to gain access to high-profile targets or events, or more overtly as a standard item of issued weaponry in order to provide a final method of attack or to prevent the capture of the person wearing it. The majority of these types of IED are initiated by the person that is carrying or wearing the device, and these fall inside the command category of IEDs. However, suicide IEDs can also incorporate time, secondary command (such as RC which is often used as a backup), and victim operated anti-removal firing switches.
ׁ WARNING. Just because one firing switch can be identified does not mean that secondary switches are not present. An MA IEDD operator must conduct a thorough threat assessment and take all necessary actions to mitigate these threats.
Principle advantages:
• Can move and think in order to react to changes;
• A psychological weapon degrading the morale of an opponent;
• Can be used as an anti-capture weapon.
Principle disadvantages:
• Requires cultural and religious acceptance;
• Requires fighters that are prepared to use this tactic;
• Relatively small main charges – up to backpack size.
In the following example the fighter from a non-state armed group (NSAG) is wearing an overt suicide belt containing approximately 4 kg of military grade explosive. Red detonating cord has been used as a booster which is connected directly to a military grenade type fuze. This mechanical fuze incorporates a cocked striker in conjunction with a stab sensitive detonator. When the pin is pulled the striker moves forward, impinging on the detonator, causing the IED to function.
IED tactics
289
Powered by FlippingBook