Office for Bombing Prevention

Improvised Explosive Device Awareness

prepared for:
Bomb Making Materials Awareness Program

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Madrid, Spain

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 IED Awareness
You represent the first line of defense!
You may be the first one to identify the presence of an IED.

Your vigilance can make a difference!

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 What is an IED?
Improvised Explosive Device
U.S. Federal Statutes define an IED as:
 A modified explosive device built with available materials to achieve
specific results, to destroy, kill, incapacitate, harass or distract.

 A “Destructive Device” means any explosive, incendiary, or poison

gas bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge more than four
ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more
than one-quarter ounce, mine or similar device

The federal term for IED is “Destructive Device (DD)” and can be found
in 26 USC section 5845(f).

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 What are we up against?
IED attacks remain the primary tactic for bombers, terrorists and criminals seeking
relatively uncomplicated, inexpensive means for inflicting
mass casualties and maximum damage.

The use of IED’s represents the most likely domestic threat to the United States,
our citizens, and our way of life.

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Probability of Threat

Explosives

Industrial Chemicals

Biological

Radioactive / Nuclear

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Developments
Al Qaeda

AQ-AP

Zindani
al islah-Political Movement 2005 London Subway Plot
Lindh

Mubin Shaikh, 2006 Tronoto

Bomb Plot

Anwar al-Awlaki
Radical Cleric
2007, Ft. Dix Plot
Hasan Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
Surveillance
Citicorp Bank Plot
• Financial Sector targeted
• Duration 1 year +
• Hidden amongst the population
ˉ Dhiren Barot (Issa al Britani)
Known Associates
• Khalid Shaikh Mohammed
•(AQ #2, 911Mastermind)
• Qaisar Shaffi (WMD Conspirator)
• Hambali (JI Operations Chief)

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The Threat: Progression of IED Sophistication

Vehicle Borne Home Made Explosives

Improvised (HME)
Explosive Device
(VBIED)

Suicide Bombers

Simple Mechanical Sophisticated Devices:

Devices Radio/Remote Controlled/DTMF
Digital circuitry
Anti-Disturbance Features

Internet search engine:

Results 1-10 of about 6,980,000 for bomb making. (0.17 seconds)
Terrorist’s tactics are progressing as well!
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The IED as a Weapons System
Command and
Military Chain of Command Wafik, coordinates attacks
Control

Intelligence, Surveillance, & Target Mansour, age 12, checks

Reconnaissance Assets Identification trucks

Jamal, age 18, records

JSTARS & AWACS Target Movements convoy movements and
patterns in notebook

Ahmed, age 14, calls on cell

LANTIRN Pod, Radar Target Acquisition
phone

F-16 Delivery Platform Mohammed’s Truck

AGM-65 Maverick Warhead IED

Pilot Key Enabler The Bombmaker

$$$,$$$,$$$ Cost $$$

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 Types of Explosives
What’s the Difference?

High Explosives (HE): Detonating – Above 3300 fps.

A High Explosive is a compound or mixture of compounds which, when subject to
heat, shock, friction or impact undergoes a very rapid self propagating, heat
producing decomposition.
Examples include TNT, C-4, Tetryl, Composition B, ANFO and many more.

Low Explosives (LE): Deflagrating – Below 3300 fps.

Low Explosives create a subsonic explosion and lack HE’s overpressure wave.
Examples include gun powders (black powder, smokeless powder), propellants and most
pyrotechnic materials .

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 The Fire Triangle!
Elements to support combustion

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Deflagration vs. Detonation

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 Types of Explosions

1. Mechanical

2. Chemical

3. Fuel Air

4. Nuclear

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Mechanical Explosion

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Flash Powder Pipe Bomb

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Fuel Air Explosive (FAE)

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Fuel Air Explosive (FAE)

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 Types of Detonations

 High Order

 Low Order

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The Explosive Train

A Three Stage
Explosive Train Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 Explosive Effects
There are three effects associated with a detonation of an explosive device.

1. Thermal

2. Blast

3. Fragmentation

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Thermal
Temperatures reach thousands of degrees

High explosives – short duration

Low explosives – long duration

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Blast

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 Blast
Shock front

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Blast ReflectionBlast&Reflection
Amplification
& Amplification

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Positive & Negative Phase

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Fragmentation
Primary (1000’s fps)
Container
Munitions case
Shrapnel

Secondary (100’s fps)

Includes the above
Any debris located near the seat of
the blast

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Combination of Blast & Frag

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 Critical Components
Initiator

Explosive

Container

Power Source Switch

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 Power Source
Electrical
Mechanical
Chemical

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Initiator

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 Explosive Main Charge

“…there is enough uncontrolled SEMTEX to support terrorism

throughout the world for 150 years.”
President Vaclav Havel, Czech Republic, 1990

TNT Equivalent: 1.35 (Semtex-H)

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 Switch
Arming
Firing

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 Switches/Sensors

AIR Ultrasonic
Biostatic Microwave

Passive Infrared (PIR)

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Switches/Sensors

PIR IMAGES

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Container
•Used to conceal
•Transport
•Increase lethality

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 Type by Function
Three typical type by function categories of IED
are most commonly used.
1. Time fired
2. Victim operated
3. Command initiated

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Time Fired
IED detonates after pre-set time delay.
Mechanical, analog, igniferous, digital or electronic
timing mechanisms can be utilized.
1. Clock 4. Timers
2. Watches 5. Burning fuse
3. Integrated circuits

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 Victim Operated
IED detonates by actions of unsuspecting individuals
1. Disturbance 6. Light
2. Pressure 7. Acoustic
3. Pressure release 8. Magnetic
4. Tension/Pull 9. Passive infra red (PIR)
5. Tension release/Push 10. Active infra red (AIR)

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 Command Initiated
Bomber to choose optimum moment to detonate IED
1. Cell phones 6.Any combination of
2. Radios transmitter/receiver
3. Doorbells 7. Mechanical (Pull/Release)
4. Keyless entry system 8. Car Alarms
5. Pagers 9. Command wire

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Command Initiated device

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 IED Threats
1. Vehicle Borne IED (VBIED)
2. Suicide Bombs (PBIED)
3. Remote Controlled (RCIED)
4. Maritime (WBIED)
5. Multiple/Simultaneous Incidents
6. Soft Target/High Risk Re-Capture
7. Secondary Device

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IED Standoff Distance (Front)

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IED Standoff Distance (Back)

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VBIED being counter-charged.
If you can see it, It can see you!

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 Safety precautions!
1. Do not touch or move suspicious items
2. Move away to a safe distance
3. Prevent others from approaching
4. Communicate safely to staff, visitors and the public
5. Don’t use radios/cell phones in the immediate vicinity of a
suspect item
6. Notify proper authorities
7. Ensure that whoever found the item or witnessed the incident
remains on hand to brief the police
8. Always be aware of secondary devices
ALWAYS SUSPECT THE DEVICE IS ARMED AND READY TO FIRE

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Secondary Devices

Eric Rudolph

IRA

Beslan
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Things NOT to do with a suspect IED!

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Another example of what NOT to do
with a suspect IED

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Are there any questions?

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 Improvised Explosive Device Awareness

For more information on IED security programs and initiatives contact:

DHS Office for Bombing Prevention

(703) 235-5723
OBP@dhs.gov

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