How to make a suicide belt

[Mycroft]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/10/ncrime210.xml

How best to blow up people on a bus - the chilling video circulating on terrorist websites
By Colin Freeman
(Filed: 10/07/2005)

A DIY video showing how to make a "suicide-belt" bomb for use on a crowded bus is being circulated among terrorist websites.

The 26-minute tape gives a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to pack the belt with shrapnel and high explosive, and then detonate it on board for maximum loss of life.

Back in the day I used to have a copy of The Anarchists Cookbook but I never used it for anything. I had a friend who was more crazy, who liked to make pipe bombs for fun, but the worst he ever did was make a foot wide crater in the asphalt of our school playground one summer.

But this stuff here is for real.

 

[Bikewer]

Information like this has been available for a long time, if perhaps not so widely disseminated.

Back when I was a teenager (60s) I sent for a catalogue of publications by Paladin Press.

Hehe- still extant, I see:

http://www.paladin-press.com/

They featured all sorts of radical titles involving weapons, personal security, how to "drop out" of society, etc. Among the titles were re-prints of military manuals on booby-trapping, improvised explosives, etc., all shamelessly ripped off from US Military publications.

 

[JR "BOB" Dobbs]

None for me, thanks! We blew up a toilet once a long time ago (before fertilizer became difficult to obtain after the Oklahoma bombings). We went so far out in the middle of nowhere, I think the only thing hurt in the blast were some weeds and probably bugs. I can't even fathom the desire to hurt other people like that or the desire to personally be the bomb.

 

[demon]

I`m waiting for the Israeli DIY video "How to make a Helicopter Gunship" for use on apartment blocks or crowded streets.

 

[Ian Osborne]

the only thing hurt in the blast were some weeds and probably bugs.

...and the sensibilities of everyone who turned up desparate for somewhere to crap!

 

[WildCat]

I`m waiting for the Israeli DIY video "How to make a Helicopter Gunship" for use on apartment blocks or crowded streets.

I don't see how this is comparable, unless you're making the claim that the purpose of a helicopter gunship is to kill as many innocent people as possible. Are you claiming this is the case? Any evidence? Otherwise, it's just a strawman.

 

[Ian Osborne]

I`m waiting for the Israeli DIY video "How to make a Helicopter Gunship" for use on apartment blocks or crowded streets.

Step 1: Get the USA to pay for the weapons...

 

[Ian Osborne]

I don't see how this is comparable, unless you're making the claim that the purpose of a helicopter gunship is to kill as many innocent people as possible.

It's comparable in terms of usage. Neither the Gunship or the suicide bomb is inherently designed for killing civilians, but both do a good job when used for this purpose.

 

[Mycroft]

It's comparable in terms of usage. Neither the Gunship or the suicide bomb is inherently designed for killing civilians, but both do a good job when used for this purpose.

How is a suicide bomb belt not inherently designed for killing civilians?

 

[Ian Osborne]

How is a suicide bomb belt not inherently designed for killing civilians?

It could be used against military targets. It seldom is, but this is down to the user, not the weapon.

 

[NoZed Avenger]

Yeah.


It could be a crowded military bus.


Right.


Precisely the same.

 

[Manny]

It could be used against military targets. It seldom is, but this is down to the user, not the weapon.

Against a military target, perhaps, but not in a military use. In order for a suicide belt to be effective the person wearing it must not draw attention to him/herself. Specifically, the person must be able to get close to the target without being shot. As, by definition, military attacks occur by troops wearing recognizable uniforms, the only use for a suicide belt is by terrorists.

 

[Jon_in_london]

It could be a military crowded bus.

or it could be a military check point....

 

[NoZed Avenger]

or it could be a military check point....

I didn't see a mention of a checkpoint in the video description. Just methods of killing the most people in a crowded bus.

I could have missed it, of course, as I only skimmed the text.

 

[Jon_in_london]

As, by definition, military attacks occur by troops wearing recognizable uniforms, the only use for a suicide belt is by terrorists.

Has not the US and UK employed soldiers out of uniform? Are we therefore guilty of terrorism?

 

[Donks]

Against a military target, perhaps, but not in a military use. In order for a suicide belt to be effective the person wearing it must not draw attention to him/herself. Specifically, the person must be able to get close to the target without being shot. As, by definition, military attacks occur by troops wearing recognizable uniforms, the only use for a suicide belt is by terrorists.

The Japanese used suicide bombers against American tanks in WWII. They would strap explosives on, then jump under the tank and detonate.

 

[Mycroft]

The Japanese used suicide bombers against American tanks in WWII. They would strap explosives on, then jump under the tank and detonate.

So if you designed your explosive belt with shrapnel, chances are it's not designed to blow up a tank.

 

[WildCat]

Has not the US and UK employed soldiers out of uniform? Are we therefore guilty of terrorism?

Terrorists don't wear uniforms.
The US and UK sometimes employ spies and saboteurs who don't wear uniforms.
Therefore, the US and UK are guilty of terrorism.

Look carefully, and you'll see a logical fallacy there.

 

[Ryokan]

It could be used against military targets. It seldom is, but this is down to the user, not the weapon.

The Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka has waged a pretty succesful war against the Sri Lankan government using suicide bombers against military targets.

 

[Ed]

Know what would be fun? A suicide bombers convention. It would be cool, they could just blow themselves upamong their peers. Messy, loud, and satisfying.