NCJ Number
210698
Date Published
2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article presents profiles of suicide bombers to better prepare law enforcement personnel for preventing attacks; it is the first of a two-part series on suicide bombers.
Abstract
Although the United States has been spared from the horror of frequent suicide bombings, developments in the fight against terrorism may result in more suicide bombings within America. This article is intended to provide profiles of suicide bombers and the common beliefs spurring them to commit terrorist acts so that law enforcement and other first responders will be better prepared to prevent or minimize these attacks. Types of suicide bombers are described as either individual or vehicular. The operational advantages of suicide bombings over traditional terrorist bombings are outlined and include the precise delivery of the bomb to the target and the infliction of additional trauma for witnesses. The tactical employment and operations of suicide bombers are described, as are pre-incident indicators, such as behaviors and appearance. A checklist for observing, reporting, responding, and investigating suicide bombing incidents is included. The second article in this series outlines how police and other first responders should react to incidents of suicide bombings.