Suicide Bombing

IGOR MATIČIĆ
ZAGREB, OCTOBER 2018
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 Suicide Bombing
 Acts in which an individual personally delivers
explosives and detonates them to inflict the
greatest possible damage, killing himself or
herself.
 Suicide attacks/bombings are those attacks
where not only does the attacker anticipate dying,
but actively participates in the process of his/her
own death.

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The Device—
Man and Machine

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 Who Has the Bomb

Suicide bomber
Dhanu, with a
sandlewood
garland, minutes
before attacking
former Indian
Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi. She
is wearing an
explosive device
beneath her
dress, intended to
kill her and her
target.

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Suicide Bombings

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Suicide Bombings

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 Who can be a Suicide Bomber?
 Male or female
 Young or old
 Any nationality
 With or without a family
 With political or apolitical motiv

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 General Characteristics
of Suicide Bombing
 There is no single profile of a suicide bombing—
but there are general characteristics
 A central element in a terrorist organization’s campaign of
psychological warfare
 Both primitive and sophisticated methods
 Primary goal is to terrify a larger group of people than
those immediately present at the explosion
 Preparation may involve more than one person
 Both men and women may take part
 Suicide terror activities take place over a wide
geographical area

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 General Characteristics
of Suicide Bombing
 Motives:
 Acting in the name of God, a nationality, a leader or the
organization
 Peer or social pressure
 To be a Hero, a Martyr
 Revenge
 Deterrence
 Money
 Paradise

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 The Suicide Attack Process
1. Formulate the goals/intent
2. Choose the target
3. Prepare for the mission
4. Manufacture the bomb
5. Deploy to the final staging area
6. Move into position
7. Activate the device

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 How to recognise „Suicide Bomber”?
1. The appearance of being nervous. They may
seem preoccupied or have a blank stare.
2. Praying fervently to him/herself
3. Walking deliberately toward a specific object or
target, often pushing their way through a crowd
or around barriers.
4. A beard may have been recently shaved or the
hair cut short. There is a noticeable difference in
the skin color of the recently shaved area.
5. Smelling of herbal- or floral-scented water
6. Inappropriate or loose clothing
7. Carrying a backpack, bag, briefcase or luggage
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