PREVIOUS NEWS
12/31/00 - Following telephone warnings issued by the Basque ETA, Spanish police safely disposed of a car bomb containing over 220 pounds of explosive. The bomb was concealed in a car stolen from France and parked near a hotel in Seville. Approximately 100 guests were evacuated from the hotel after the warnings were received.
Bomb Damages Government Building in Corsica
12/31/00 - A bomb blast in the town of Corte damaged offices and shattered windows at the Environment Office of Corsica. No one was injured in the attack. Property damage was estimated at 500,000 French francs (approx. US$70,000).
This is the fourth recorded bomb attack against this building.
Series of Bombings Kill 14 in Manila
12/30/00 - Five explosions in Manila killed at least 14 people and injured more than 90. The first four blasts occurred almost simultaneously, targeting a bus and train coach, an airport, and a park. The most devastating attack occurred onboard a train pulling into Blumentritt Station. This blast killed nine and injured at least 40.
The fifth bomb, discovered at a gas station near the Dusit hotel, detonated while police bomb disposal personnel were attempting to disarm the device. One police officer was killed in the blast.
Bombings in Israel Kill 2, Injure Over 15
12/28/00 - Bombings in Tel Aviv and Gaza killed at least 2 and wounded 15. According to reports, the first incident occurred around a bus in Tel Aviv--resulting in at least 13 injured. The second blast occurred at the Sufa crossing checkpoint in Gaza, killing 2 and injuring 2 others.
Bomb Targets Tanzanian Electoral Office
12/27/00 - A bomb exploded in the offices of the Electoral Commission on the island of Pemba, causing severe damage to the facility. No one was reported injured. This is the seventh bombing in the Zanzibar region since the conclusion of the island’s general elections seven weeks ago.
Suicide Bombing Injures 3 Israeli Soldiers
12/22/00 - A suicide bomber detonated a device in a West Bank roadside café that killed him and injured at least three Israeli soldiers. Police reports state that the bomber walked into the café, sat down and detonated the bomb without any warning.
The same café was the target of a suicide bombing in 1993.
Third Bomb Attack Against British Citizens in Saudi Arabia
12/17/00 - A British citizen from Scotland, David Brown, lost an eye and suffered injuries to his hands and face following an explosion at Al Khobar. The explosive device was concealed inside a juice carton left near the windshield of Brown’s car. The device detonated when Brown tried to move the container.
This is the third bomb attack directed against a British citizen in Saudi Arabia in the past 31 days. All three attacks involved devices planted on/in the target’s vehicle.
For information about defense against anti-vehicle explosive attacks, see Lesson Seven of the Bomb Countermeasures for Security Professionals CD-ROM. To download a free CBT training module describing vehicle search procedures, click "Here."
Car Bomb Kills 19 in Chechnya
12/09/00 - A car bomb detonated near a mosque in the Chechen village of Alkhan-Yurt (south of Grozny). The explosion killed 19 civilians and injured at least 21 others. Reports are unclear, but the device which exploded appears to have been a secondary which detonated after a crowd gathered (following a first incident).
Bomb Discovered in Colombia Prior to Visit by American VIPs
12/01/00 - Two improvised landmines were discovered along a road between an airport and the town of Barrancabermeja just two hours prior to a scheduled visit by U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone and U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson. Despite contrasting statements by Colombian police, U.S. officials do not believe that the devices were planted as part of an assassination attempt.
RECENT ADDITIONS & NEW LINKS
• A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation
U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice
• Significant Incidents of Political Violence Against Americans: 1998
(8.4 MB PDF) DS/DSS/ITA, US State Dept.
• COTS Blast Mitigation Resource Data Base
Blast Mitigation Action Group (maintained by TSWG)
Be sure to visit the Equipment Manufacturer's directory for new listings of manufacturers and distributors.
If you have news or an article that you would like us to post, E-Mail us at: info@bombsecurity.com
UPCOMING
EVENTS
February 12-16, 2001
ASLET Conference
(Orlando, FL)
May 8-10, 2001
Force Protection Equipment Demonstration III
(Quantico, VA)
June 24-29, 2001
IABTI International TrainingConference
(Albequerque, NM)
Vehicle Bomb Delivery Indicators
Studies of previous incidents have revealed several types of suspicious behavior which, if observed, may indicate a possible vehicle bomb delivery. All security and law enforcement personnel assigned to high threat environments should be trained to recognize the following delivery indicators:
The driver manipulates something near the driver's seat before exiting the vehicle.
In most vehicle bomb deliveries (when suicide is not part of the plan), the device is armed only after the vehicle is parked and the driver is ready to escape the area. To facilitate this quickly, the activating assembly or an arming switch is often located near the driver's seat. The driver may be viewed manipulating this before exiting the vehicle.
As the driver exits the vehicle, notice if the driver seems hurried, nervous, or looking around to see if he/she is being observed.
The driver temporarily opens the trunk or back of a suspect vehicle before leaving the area.
As previously stated, the device will usually be armed immediately after the vehicle is parked. If the activating components or arming assembly is located with the main charge, the driver may be observed opening the trunk or the rear of the vehicle to arm the device.
In most legitimate situations, a driver opening the trunk of a car or back of a truck will be removing something or putting something inside. Watch carefully to see if the driver opens the back, manipulates something, and closes the door without removing anything.
A second person exiting the back of a suspect van or truck.
In some situations, a second person will be located in the back of the suspect van or truck. This individual will arm the device after the driver signals that the vehicle is in place and will immediately exit the back of the van or truck. This is most likely to be observed if the vehicle cab is separate from the cargo area or trailer.
The driver parking the suspect vehicle and departing the area in a second car.
Watch where the driver goes immediately after parking the vehicle. In many cases, a second vehicle will be used for a quick escape after the bomb delivery. This vehicle may be parked nearby, visible within the area of observation. In other situations, the suspect vehicle may be followed to the delivery site by a second escape car. This car may park or stop temporarily as the bomb is delivered. The driver will then get into the escape car and depart the area.