FINDING AND DIFFUSING EXPLOSIVES

Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs are highly dangerous and need a lot of expertise in order to be disengaged. However, the fact that they are improvised makes it difficult to classify them and hence set down specific rules or plans to be used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel while diffusing them. The only thing that can be done is to adopt certain key procedures that will ensure the disposal of the explosives. These are broadly listed below:

1. Evaluating the Situation – An explosive can contain different kinds of material, it can be chemical, biological, radiological or even nuclear. This makes it essential for any operative of the EOD to first identify the material. Doing so is useful in making an assessment of the kind of support required in order to diffuse the bomb. This information is crucial since it is given to the area commander to organize backup.

2. Render Safe Procedures – Explosive simulant information is available on the internet but this you can read only here: the only way to disarm IEDs is to use ways called the Render Safe Procedures or RSPs. Developed by highly trained military officers across the globe; these have been known to safely disengage explosive devices on numerous occasions. Their development is credited to military personnel who have years of experience dealing with such threats and scientists conducting research in the field of disarmament of explosives.

3. Jamming Technologies – Just as terrorists come up with more innovative ways to make and detonate explosives with every passing day, our military personnel are no less. They have developed several jamming technologies which cause havoc with explosives powered by wireless means. However, in response to this, terrorist outfits have now begun to use physical connections between the explosive and the detonator. But the brighter side of the picture is that these are very difficult to place in crowded areas and can be detected much more easily and hence neutralized.

4. Counter IED Measures – Several countries have been involved in efforts to fight against the menace of IEDs – at the head being the military forces of India, Canada, United States, Israel, Spain and the United Kingdom. They all have a lot of experience with IEDs (used in dozens of terrorist attacks) and counter measures in dealing with them.

5. Training Methods – There is a new program called the Canadian Unmanned Systems Challenge under which students are being trained to create a machine that will not only detect and locate IEDs but also be able to give clues to the whereabouts of the terrorists.

6. Recognizing Signs – While technology remains at the forefront of tracking IEDs, the human component is just as crucial. It is only with experience, good solid training and awareness that an EOD officer can successfully disarm an explosive. For instance, a machine will not be able to recognize tell tale signs indicating the presence of an explosive device – an abandoned vehicle on the side of a road or freshly turned soil. Only a human being can do that. And aided by technology, disengage the threat successfully.