IED Clearance Good Practice Guide

‘Pull’ switch (string)

Motorcycle brake light switch

Image 38. A motorcycle brake light switch used as a command-pull switch. This is an example of a repurposed commercial switch used in an IED

‘Pull’ switch (string)

Electrical connection (held apart)

Power source

Image 39. A modified clothes peg used as a command-pull switch

ׁ WARNING. These same switches could be used in a VOIED (tension) tripwire type IED.

The following advantages and disadvantages of command-pull IEDs are considered in comparison to command-wire IEDs:

ADVANTAGES:

• Less expensive resources are required (string vs wire).

• The pull link can be hastily emplaced on the surface while still remaining difficult to detect.

DISADVANTAGES:

• Can act as a tripwire, significantly increasing the possibility of inadvertent initiation compared with other command IEDs. • Harder to target fast-moving targets due to the time lag caused when ‘taking up slack’ in the pull cord.

Technical IED capabilities

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