2. Scope
• What is an IED?
• The five components of an IED
– Casing
– Explosive
– Power source
– Detonator / Initiator
– Trigger / Firing Switch
• Different types of IED
– Command (RC or CW)
– VOIED
– PBIED
– VBIED
– EFP
– Chemical / Biological
• IED Enhancements
• Experimental IEDs
– Drone-borne
– RC-driven VBIEDs
3. The Casing
• Virtually anything can
be used as a casing
for an IED!
• Serves two purposes:
– Conceal the device
from being detected
– Enhance the explosive
power
4. The Explosive
• Two types: High explosive and low
explosive
• Comes in all shapes, sizes, granularity
and colour
• Low explosive:
– Black powder
• Obtained from shotgun cartridges
– Potassium perchlorate
• Obtained from fireworks & match heads
• High explosive:
– TNT
• Harvested from conventional munitions
– Ammonium nitrate-based
• Obtained through processing of fertiliser
– TATP (triacetone triperoxide)
• Favoured in Europe, precursors freely available
• Terrorist publications such as Inspire
magazine regularly feature
scientifically-accurate ‘how-to’ guides
for manufacturing homemade
explosives
5.
6. The Power Source
• All IEDs require a
power source,
except for
incendiary devices
• Common items
include 9V
batteries, car
batteries,
motorcycle
batteries, AA
batteries…
• Possibilities are
endless… even
stored mechanical
energy can be
used, such as a
coiled spring.
7. The Detonator / Initiator
• Explosives require
some sort of
method or
component to
initiate an
explosive
• Detonators
– Can be mechanical
or electrical
– Hard to acquire in
UK, an improvised
detonator is more
likely to be seen
– Contain a low
explosive
• Initiators
– Different from
detonators
– Used to ‘initiate’
low explosives,
such as black
powder
– Often improvised,
easy to make
8.
9. The Trigger / Firing Switch
• Every IED
requires some
sort of action or
input to cause the
device to function
– A button
– A switch
– A timer
• IRA often used a
mercury tilt switch
• Mobile phones
and UHF/VHF
radios favoured
by IS
14. Command: CW (command wire) or RC (radio-control)
• The IED receives
a ‘command’ that
causes it to initiate
• Two types:
– Command wire
(CW)
– Radio-controlled
(RC)
• IS frequently use
mobile phones or
radios
• Command wires
less popular,
difficult to conceal,
limited range
15. VOIED: (Victim-operated)
• The IED is
initiated as a result
of some sort of
action or motion of
the victim
– Pressure plate
– Pressure release
– Motion sensor
(PIR)
– Tilt switch
16. PBIED: (Person-borne)
• Also known as a “suicide
vest”
• Worn around the
waist/chest
• Two types:
– Defensive
• Anti-capture device
• Bataclan theatre
– Offensive
• Inflict mass casualties
• Contains fragmentation matrix
• Stade de France
• IS utilise female and child
operatives to infiltrate
secure locations
• IS Have experimented
with internal PBIEDs
17. VBIED: (Vehicle-borne)
• Huge destructive
power
• Main charges up to
50 tonnes seen!!
• Suicide & non-
suicide
• Perimeter breach
• Mass casualty
18. EFP: Explosively Formed Projectile
• Design
originated from
the Iranians
• Used to great
effect during the
first Gulf War
– Destroyed a US
M1 Abrams
MBT
• Identifiable by
the concave
‘liner’, usually
made of copper
or steel
19. Chemical/Biological IED
• Chemical and
biological weapons
have added ‘fear
factor’
• IS have been
experimenting for
years
• Main difficulty exists
in getting explosive
power correct
– Too low, the agent
will not be dispersed
– Too high and the
agent will be
vaporized/destroyed
20. Refrigerant 134a
Mixtures with high concentrations of air
at elevated pressure and/or temperature
can be ignited. Contact of 1,1,1,2-
tetrafluoroethane with flames or hot
surfaces in excess of 250 °C (482 °F) may
cause vapour decomposition and the
emission of toxic gases including
hydrogen fluoride and carbonyl halides.
21. IED Enhancements
• Additives or
damage multipliers
added to enhance
the lethality or
destructive
capability of an IED
• Most common is
fragmentation
– Ball-bearings
– Nuts and bolts
– Steel rebar
– Bullets
• Accelerant to increase
incendiary effect
– Gasoline
– Kerosene
• Pressurised containers
– Gas cylinders
27. Drone-borne IED
• Terrorists using
drones for several
years
– Reconnaissance
– Assassination
• Technique not
perfected
– Technical hurdles
– Weight
– Targeting
– Stable flight
– Navigation
– Counter-measures
• Propaganda value
and creates ‘terror’
28.
29.
30. RC-Driven VBIEDs
• Remote-controlled
vehicle filled with
explosives
• Technical and
design hurdles
• Often slow-
moving, difficult to
maneuver
• Vulnerable to
interdiction
• No requirement for
a suicide operative
• https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=Tr
4y6kaiiBY
