Spanish Magistrate Killed by Proximity Bomb

10/30/00- A proximity bomb explosion in Madrid's Arturo Soria district during the morning rush hour claimed the lives of Judge Jose Francisco Querol, his driver and bodyguard, and injured at least 30 others. While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, M/O strongly suggests the Basque ETA.

Judge Querol, who presided over military hearings in the Supreme Court, is the 17th assassination victim since the ETA ended its ceasefire with the Spanish Government last December.

PIJ Claims Responsibility for Suicide Attack in Gaza

10/26/00- An Israeli soldier in Gaza was wounded when a suicide bomber on a bicycle struck a concrete barrier -- initiating the detonation of approx. 11 to 15 pounds of explosive. According to witnesses, the bomber appeared to be headed in the direction of a school. The bomber was identified as a 23-year-old man from Gaza, Nabil Al-Arrir. Shortly after the attack, a spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Beruit called Arrir a "shahid" (martyr) and claimed that suicide operations would continue.

ATTN: Executive Security International Alumni

10/25/00- As part of the first ESI reunion since 1993, a decision was made by all participants to formally create a new alumni association for ESI graduates. A founding Board of Directors was selected with the task of getting the association off its feet. The association will serve as a forum for networking within the executive protection industry and supporting the professional endeavors of graduates with sustained education, resources, and marketing opportunities.

For more information, contact PMG Projects Coordinator Craig Gundry by e-mail at: cgundry@cbwarfare.com.

ED. NOTE: Executive Security International has recently adopted the Bomb Countermeasures for Security Professionals program as the basis for its class, Bomb Search and Identification.

DoD Places Military Forces On Heightened Alert

10/23/00- In response to indications of increased terrorist threats, U.S. forces in Bahrain, Qatar, and the Incrik air base in Turkey have been placed on THREATCON Delta. THREATCON Delta is the U.S. military's highest state of security alert, generally reserved for situations where a terrorist attack has occured or intelligence indicates a specific terrorist threat.

LTTE Suicide Bombing Wounds at least 23 in Sri Lanka

10/19/00- According to reports, police were dispatched to investigate a suspicious man in the vicinity of Colombo's city hall. When approached, the man fled and detonated a bomb as police gave chase. The explosion wounded at least 23 people including three American tourists.

The blast occured only minutes before the President of Sri Lanka swore in a new cabinet (just over 1/2 mile from the location of the attack).

ED. NOTE: As of date, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) has conducted approximately 200 suicide bombings since 1986, resulting in the death and injury of thousands of victims.

British Embassy Bombed in Yemen

10/13/00- A small bomb exploded after being thrown over the perimeter wall of the British embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a. The explosion broke windows facing the blast, but caused no casualties.

Suicide Bomb Attack Targets USS Cole in Yemen

10/12/00- A trojan horse suicide bombing has claimed the lives of 17 sailors onboard the naval destroyer USS Cole. The attack occurred during an unannounced refueling stop in the port of Aden. According to sources, a mooring boat participating in the refueling operation approached the vessel and pulled up along the port side. Two men inside the boat stood at attention followed immediately by the blast. The explosion ripped a 20' x 40' hole in the ship's hull, flooding the engine room and adjacent berthing areas.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

ED. NOTE: Despite media speculations about connections to recent events in the Middle-East, this was not a hastily prepared attack. A terrorist operation with this level of information and logistical requirements would have taken months to prepare. It is our assessment that the plan to strike a refueling naval vessel (most likely with the assistance of "inside" Yemeni sources) had been initiated for some time. The decision to strike the USS Cole, specifically, may have been decided when inside sources became aware of the ship's planned refueling stop.

Additionally, we have been asked by several news agencies to comment regarding what type of device, capable of being concealed on a Zodiac boat, could have caused such extensive damage. While only a complete investigation will answer this question, a number of factors unique to maritime explosions may have contributed to the large level of damage. One of the questions unanswered at this point is whether the explosive charge was concealed above or below water level. The effectiveness of explosives against surfaces backed by air (such as a ship hull) is strongly enhanced underwater--especially at close standoff distances. The water acts as tamping and resists the expanding pressure wave, dramatically increasing the amount of pressure against the surface of hull. In an underwater employment like this, an explosive charge will produce much more damage than an equivalent blast against the same target above surface. For more information on blast dynamics, see Lesson Nine of the Bomb Countermeasures for Security Professionals CD-ROM.

Failed Assassination Attempt on Spanish Army Officer

10/8/00- An army officer discovered an IED concealed in his vehicle after driving 75 miles in the Seville region of Spain. According to reports, the officer heard a strange sound while driving. After arriving at his destination, the officer examined his vehicle for the source of the noise and discovered an explosive charge concealed underneath one of the front seats. The same day, police in another part of Seville discovered another bomb located in a car.

REPOST: CABO WMD Database Now Available for Export

Although the CABO Chemicals and Agents of Biological Origin WMD database is still in the commodity jurisdiction process, export sales can now be made on a license exemption basis until a final CJ determination is complete. This requires all applications for export license to be accompanied by a purchase order or letter of intent to purchase and submitted to the U.S. Department of State, PM/DTC for approval.

Contact Palladium Media Group for more details: info@bombsecurity.com.

Series of Bombings in Southern Russia

10/6/00- Two people were killed and at least 20 wounded in two separate bomb attacks at a train station and an undisclosed civilian location in the cities of Pyatigorsk and Nevinnomysk. Both attacks, timed only minutes apart, involved at least two devices planted at the target location. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

These attacks occurred just two days after another bombing near the Baltic Fleet headquarters in Kaliningrad. There were no casualties in this earlier attack.

Bombings Target Government Locations in Turkey

10/5/00- Two bombings in Istanbul were responsible for the death of one civilian and minor property damage. The first explosion occurred in a courthouse restroom. The second bomb detonated outside of a military officer's club, killing one bystander.

U.S. State Dept. Temporarily Closes Middle-Eastern Embassies

10/5/00- The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will be closing all of its embassies in Arab nations until after the Columbus Day holiday. The decision was prompted by concern over demonstrations in several Middle-Eastern states against the recent killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces.

In addition to closing the embassies, American citizens in these regions have been warned "to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness to lessen their vulnerability. Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times required for travel, and treat mail from unfamiliar sources with caution."

REPOST: PMG Releases New Pricing Schedule for U.S. Government Customers

Palladium Media Group has announced a new discounted price schedule for U.S. Government customers purchasing the Bomb Countermeasures for Security Professionals CD-ROM. Mirroring the prices formerly established for the U.S. Department of Defense, the new prices apply to single-unit purchases and include special discounts on quantity packages of 100, 250, and 500 units.

Contact Palladium Media Group for details: Tel. (727) 897-9600 / Fax (727) 502-9895.

Bombings Target Election Campaign Events in Sri Lanka

10/5/00- At least 37 people have been killed and dozens wounded in two bombings targeting election rallies. In the first attack (10/2), 24 people were killed by a suicide bomber during a rally in the city of Muttar. Among the those killed were a political candidate from Sri Lanka's ruling party. This attack occurred only hours after Deputy Post Minister M. L. M. Hisbullah narrowly escaped a roadside bomb attack in the province of Ampara (the second assassination attempt on Hisbullah in three days). The next attack occurred in the town of Medawachchiya on 10/5/00. In this attack, twelve people were killed and 45 wounded when a suicide bomber detonated a device at the site of an election rally.

While no one has claimed responsibility for these attacks, M/O clearly points to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE).

Bomb in Ivory Coast Bus Station Kills 4

10/4/00- A bomb exploded at the main bus terminal in Abidjan, killing four and injuring at least seven people. Reports claim that the device exploded prematurely, killing the bomber while in the process of delivering the device ("Own Goal"). No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Series of Bombs Target UN Presence in Kosovo

10/2/00- A series of three coordinated bomb attacks in Kosovo injured six people and damaged three UN vehicles in the southern city of Prizren. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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• A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation
U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice

Be sure to visit the Equipment Manufacturer's directory for new listings of manufacturers and distributors.

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• TSWG Evacuation Distance Chart (as soon as its approved for release)

• Suicide Bomber Profiles (Bomb Security News-Nov 2000)

• 1999 ATF Explosive Incidents Report summary

• Major Case Archive

• Vulnerability Surveys (for assessing various types of bomb-related risk)

• Reviews of the Bomb Countermeasures CD-ROM from Security Management, the Journal of Counterterrorism and Security International, and SWAT magazine.

ATTN: WMD and CBW Gurus

Are you ready to test your knowledge in different chemcial and biological WMD related subjects? If so, see if you can cut the mustard with our new CBW quiz.

Click here to access the CBW Quiz and Answer Key from our sister site (CBWarfare.com).

 

The following is a prelimininary summary of the characteristics of 50 incarcerated bombers (U.S.) studied by the NCAVC as part of a new offender typology research project. This summary provides a good survey of the characteristics of North American bombers.

Sex:
100% Male

Race:
74% White
12% Black
4% Hispanic

Maritial Status:
58% Married at least once

Education:
72% HS diploma or higher

Age:
38% Under 18
50% Under 23

Intelligence:
Mean IQ 111

Mental Health:
40% Mental health history

Economic Status:
74% Middle class
56% Average + income

Employment/Vocation:
60% Stably employed
30% Prior military service
50% Constr., Mechanics
17% Trained in electronics

Childhood:
56% Stable childhood home

Personality:
44% Self-described loners

Source: National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime