How a Suicide Vest Belt is Assembled

How a Suicide Vest/Belt is Created

A suicide vest or belt is an improvised explosive device (IED) that is developed and utilized by suicide bombers to conduct terror attacks. This improvised explosive device contains explosives and a detonator that inflict damages during suicidal attacks. Suicide vests or belts have become common devices in the modern society because of their increased used by suicide bombers to carry out terrorism. The increase in terror attacks and emergence of terrorism as a global security concern has contributed to the increased development and use of suicide belts or vests. According to a report by the Terrorism Explosive Device Analytical Center (2015), suicide vests and belts are IEDs that are utilized by terrorists to carry out attacks in several parts of the globe including Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. The increased use of these improvised explosive devices is also attributable to the fact that suicide bombers find it easy to make such devices and utilize them to carry out attacks that result in loss of lives and property. Even though there are some difficult aspects associated with assembling an improvised explosive device, suicide bombers find it relatively easy to construct a suicide vest or belt.

One of the major components of a suicide vest or belt is iron shrapnel and explosives that are filled in a duffel bag. In most cases, suicide bombers fill the duffel bag with 27 kilograms of explosives and iron shrapnel that are easily accessible to them. These explosives are then wired using several batteries and linked to a simple trigger device (detonator) that is usually hidden in a pocket (Lamb, n.d.). Once the suicide bomber is in the targeted location, they flip the detonator switch, which triggers the explosion. However, the use of the duffel bag technology in constructing suicide vests or belts has become less common because of the extra suspicion that the luggage/bag can attract.

In this regard, suicide bombers have changed their tactics in developing these improvised explosive devices. As a result, they currently utilize a special belt or vest that is worn underneath the suicide bomber’s clothing. The special belt or vest resembles a normal belt or vest but contains explosives and bits of shrapnel. However, in this new device, everything on the suicide bomber’s clothing can act as shrapnel ranging from wristwatch to his/her bones. Similar to the previous technology, the new tactics involves connecting the detonator to a pocket trigger. These components of the device are then connected to a wireless device like a cell phone that is used to trigger the explosion remotely. In this case, the explosion is triggered by a handler who guides and encourages the suicide bomber. The explosives that are currently utilized in assembling these explosive devices include triacetone triperoxide (TATP), trinitrotoluene, various chemicals, and plastic explosives (Lamb, n.d.). The most commonly used iron shrapnel components for suicide vests and belts is steel balls that range from 3 to 7 millimetres in diameter as well as other metals that are appropriate with respect to size and hardness including thick wire, nails, nuts, and screws.

For suicide bombers, these improvised explosive devices are relatively easy to assemble and require minimal expertise. Secondly, suicide vests and belts are easy to construct because of the clandestine nature of the operations of suicide bombers and other terrorists. They carry out the construction processes in a clandestine manner that is not easily detected by law enforcement officers. Third, suicide bombers and other terrorists find it easy to access the various necessary components for assembling a suicide vest or belt. However, there are some relatively challenging components associated with constructing a suicide belt or vest. One of these difficulties or challenges is the fact that the explosives are not easily affordable. The purchase of some explosives for suicide belts or vests are relatively expensive though they are accessible or available in the market.