Terrorism 101: Know what makes a terrorist, types of weapons they use & the terminology associated with terrorist events

By Tom Phillips
AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano

The September issue of FireRescue magazine included Tom Phillips’ article “Are You Ready? Preparing for a company-level response to potential terrorist events” about the company-level response to potential terrorist events involving energetic materials (p. 34). Following is supplemental information related to terrorists, examples of terrorist activities, common terminology, and the methods and weapons terrorists use in their attacks.

What Makes Someone a Terrorist, or an Activity a Terrorist Threat?
There are three criteria that must be met for an ideology or activity to be considered terrorism.

1. Cause: The cause is based in the extremist viewpoint that anyone who does not believe in the “truth” is the enemy. An extremist viewpoint starts with the belief that the individual, movement or group knows the one truth. This truth commonly involves a social, political or religious belief system or a perceived ill or injustice. Of course, it’s important to recognize that although most religions, political parties and special interest groups believe they know the one truth, these beliefs are usually not extreme. The transition toward terrorism begins with a fundamental intolerance of other viewpoints and perspectives.

2. Character: Terrorists believe that those who hold other beliefs are not only considered the enemy but also deemed worthless. They believe all enemies are “evil” and, therefore, a hindrance to furthering their beliefs, correcting the ill or relieving the injustice. Once this shift in thinking occurs, the enemy loses all value. The enemy is worthless, and any means necessary to defeat or overcome the enemy is acceptable.

3. Crime: Terrorists take, or plan to take, violent action. The action (or planning of the action), not the extremist viewpoint, is what makes the person a criminal.

When beliefs are taken to the extreme, the terrorist starts to believe that even those who are not the enemy are also worthless because they are not fighting actively to destroy the enemy. This allows them to justify attacking anyone regardless of age, gender or relationship. This explains how terrorists can show so little concern for their victims and why the cause is the central focus of their beliefs. Fortunately, only a very small number of individuals, even in extremist groups, will hold these beliefs.

Terrorist Events on American Soil
Our nation has experienced devastating terrorist events, including the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and, of course, September 11. Let’s briefly review these three events, noting the methods used to carry out the attacks.

World Trade Center; 1993
Method of Attack: Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device
In the months preceding the terrorist event, the conspirators were residing in New Jersey, gathering the materials they needed. They apparently rented storage space to house the bomb until they loaded it into a rental van. On Feb. 26, 1993, the terrorists drove a 1,200-lb. urea-nitrate bomb into the basement area of the World Trade Center in New York City, set the device’s timer and left. The explosion rocked the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 others. This incident marked the dawn of a new age in terrorism—the wholesale attack on civilians with the desire to inflict as much damage as possible. The men who committed this heinous crime have been linked to several terrorist groups, including the Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the Sudanese National Islamic Front.

Oklahoma City; 1995
Method of Attack: Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device
On April 19, 1995, at 0900 HRS, home-grown terrorist Timothy McVeigh parked a truck loaded with explosives outside the Alfred P. Murrah government building in Oklahoma City, Okla. At 0902 HRS, the truck exploded, killing 168 people, wounding more than 500 and changing the lives of countless others. McVeigh was convicted of 11 federal offenses, sentenced to death and executed on June 11, 2001. Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier were also convicted as co-conspirators in the plot.

World Trade Center; 2001
Method of Attack: Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes. American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into Tower One of the World Trade Center at 0850 HRS. United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into Tower Two at 0904 HRS. As the world watched, Tower Two collapsed to the ground at about 0959 HRS, and Tower One collapsed at 1028 HRS. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon and, thanks to the indomitable spirit of the Americans on board that day, a fourth plane did not hit its intended target but instead crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Approximately 3,000 people from nations around the world were killed in this terrorist attack.

Terrorism Terms
Pyrotechnics: Pyrotechnics create smoke, light, heat and sound. The pyrotechnics most people are familiar with are those used for entertainment purposes, such as fireworks. However, there are numerous “workhorse” pyrotechnics that are used to make items such as road flares, smoke grenades and thermites.

Propellants: Propellants include both rocket and gun propellants. Propellants are designed to deflagrate. This controlled release of gas can be used to perform useful work functions. The key to safe and effective use of propellants is to maintain a “controlled release” of gas. When propellants are confined or when control is lost, disasters such as the Challenger tragedy can occur.

Explosives: An explosive is defined as a material (chemical or nuclear) that can be initiated to undergo very rapid, self-propagating decomposition that results in the formation of more stable material, the liberation of heat or the development of a sudden pressure effect through the action of heat on produced or adjacent gases.

Low Explosives: Low explosives (LEs) create a subsonic explosion (below 3,300 feet per second) and lack high explosives’ over-pressurization wave. Examples of LEs include pipe bombs, gunpowder and most pure petroleum-based bombs, such as Molotov cocktails or aircraft improvised as guided missiles.

High Explosives: A high explosive (HE) is a compound or mixture which, when initiated, is capable of sustaining a detonation shockwave to produce a powerful blast effect. A detonation is the powerful explosive effect caused by the propagation of a high-speed shockwave through a high explosive compound or mixture. During the process of detonation, the high explosive is largely decomposed into hot, rapidly expanding gas. High explosives are classified as primary, secondary or tertiary, based on their susceptibility to initiation.

Primary Explosives: Primary explosives, which include lead azide and lead styphnate, are highly susceptible to initiation. Primary explosives often are referred to as initiating explosives because they can be used to ignite secondary explosives.

Secondary Explosives: Secondary explosives, which include nitroaromatics and nitramines, are much more prevalent at military sites than primary explosives. Because they are formulated to detonate only under specific circumstances, secondary explosives are often used as main charge or bolstering explosives.
Tertiary Explosives: Tertiary explosives are the most insensitive class of high explosives. Most of these formulations are based on ammonium nitrate (AN), such as ANFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil), which is a very insensitive substance. Tertiary explosives require a large stimulus to cause detonation. A blasting cap will typically not initiate them. Usually, a quantity of secondary explosive (referred to as a booster) is needed for this purpose.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs): Explosive and incendiary (fire) bombs are further characterized based on their source. “Manufactured” implies standard military-issued, mass-produced and quality-tested weapons. “Improvised” describes weapons produced in small quantities, or use of a device outside its intended purpose, such as converting a commercial aircraft into a guided missile. Terrorists will use whatever is available—illegally obtained manufactured weapons or IEDs that may be composed of high explosives, low explosives or both.
Most improvised explosives are composed of chemical constituents easily found in any home or local community. Improvised explosives, such as military and commercial explosives, are typically mixtures of an oxidizer and a fuel. Regardless of type, all are extremely hazardous. Most improvised explosives are based on formulations used in commercial applications or research. Legitimate users do not use improvised explosives very often today. This is due to their sensitivity and unsuitability to be handled in a safe manner.

Peroxide-Based IEDs: Peroxide-based IEDs are an emerging threat domestically. However, these IEDs have been a common explosive used by international terrorists for some time. Hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine (HMTD) and triacetonetriperoxide (TATP) were initially developed 100 years ago. They are both extremely sensitive and are used as an explosive by terrorists/bombers as both an initiator (blasting cap) and as a main charge. TATP is commonly found as the main charge being employed by terrorists in suicide bombings. HMTD has 60–116 percent of the power of TNT, and TATP has 88 percent of the power of TNT. In dry form, HMTD and TATP could appear similar to crack cocaine. These explosives will react violently with drug field test kits. First responders should consider, and look for, any indicators present on a drug scene that may also be indicators of explosive manufacture—something that is becoming more common.

More about IEDs
Components: IEDs typically have four basic components.

1. Power Supply. Most mailed or delivered IEDs contain an electric initiator and, as such, require an electric power source. Batteries that can supply the needed power come in many shapes and sizes. Most commercially available batteries can reliably furnish power to an initiator. As an alternative, mechanical action, such as a spring under pressure, can store sufficient energy to cause the function of a non-electric initiator.

2. Initiator. Because most explosives are sensitive to shock, it’s necessary to have a component that can provide the additional energy required to start a chain reaction with the explosive, causing it to burn or detonate. The most common types of initiators are squibs and blasting caps. An effective improvised initiator is a flash bulb with an exposed filament. Note: Flash bulbs are highly susceptible to static electricity.

3. Explosives. An IED also contains explosives. The explosives are the part of the IED that cause most of the damage. When ignited, the explosive undergoes a rapid decomposition, resulting in the release of great quantities of gas and thermal energy.

4. Switches. Switches fall into one of two categories: mechanical or electrical. The switch completes an electric circuit or causes a mechanical action to initiate the IED. Switches generally perform the function of safely arming the device or detonating it.

IED Delivery Methods: IEDs are delivered to targets using a variety of methods. Vehicles are often used for delivery. IEDs may also be placed by hand, thrown or projected to the target by a mortar or rocket device. Sometimes, an IED cannot be taken to the target; in such cases, the target must be brought to the IED. Examples of this include explosive devices designed to detonate when a vehicle passes the device’s location.

Suicide Bombers
Suicide attacks, in one form or another, have been directed at military and civilian targets for many years. The Japanese Kamikaze pilots of World War II are among the most famous. In more recent times, the attack on the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was conducted by a suicide bomber.

The threat of suicide bombings is a concern to all emergency responders. Law-enforcement personnel, firefighters, EMS personnel and other members of the emergency response community are responsible for assisting in identifying the signs of preparatory activity.

Emergency planners and senior officials at all other emergency response agencies are responsible for preparing comprehensive plans that fully coordinate the actions of responding agencies.

If a detonation occurs, firefighters and emergency medical personnel have the lead responsibility for rescue operations and treatment of the injured. Law enforcement agencies have lead responsibility for securing the scene and conducting the resultant criminal investigation, including isolating and retaining prospective witnesses.

A suicide bomber will often wear a concealed Person-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (PBIED). Typical device sizes range from 5 to 15 kilograms, including the explosive and any additional fragmentation material. Devices may be concealed in ordinary items intended to blend into the environment. One of the most common tactics is to use a backpack or small duffel bag to carry the device into the target area.

In addition, a PBIED may be concealed within clothing. Body bombs typically weigh from 0.5 to 10 kilograms. Bombers often use military explosives, such as TNT, or improvised high explosives, such as TATP or HMTD. The devices may be worn under the clothing as a belt or built into an outer garment. In some cases, the explosives are contained in metal or PVC pipe, generating an enhanced fragmentation effect.

As the name implies, a vehicle-borne suicide device (VBIED) is concealed within the bomber’s vehicle. A VBIED can use a variety of explosives based on characteristics of the target, material availability to the bomber, and the bomber’s level of technical knowledge. In such attacks, additional personnel have often accompanied the bomber to distract security personnel.

Thomas B. Phillips has more than 34 years of experience in emergency response, organizational management and responder training. He currently serves as a district chief with Palm Beach County (Fla.) Fire Rescue, Battalion 3. Chief Phillips was previously assigned to the Special Operations Division that includes the department’s Hazardous Material and Technical Rescue Team. He currently consults for SAIC through New Mexico Tech’s Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center, and Army North as a full-scale exercise incident commander. As an adjunct instructor for the National Fire Academy, he instructs numerous courses that include Incident Management, Training Program Management, Hazardous Materials and Terrorism Response. He has a master’s degree in environmental management, a bachelor’s degree in fire safety engineering and an associate’s degree in fire science technology. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.

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