Page 106 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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80———Bombings and Bomb Scares

but also as a method of assassinating rival gang
BOMBINGS AND BOMB SCARES leaders.
For the political bomber—the terrorist—the

Bombings and bomb scares are among the most destructive power of the bomb is intended to further
popular tools in the terrorist arsenal. Thousands of his or her cause, especially by attracting public atten-
bombings occur around the world each year, maiming tion and media interest. The terrorist bomber is fre-
and killing scores of people and costing millions of quently part of a highly organized group that carries
dollars in property damage. Bomb scares take their out other terrorist activities in addition to bombing.
toll by causing the evacuation of buildings or public It should be noted, however, that an ostensibly terror-
spaces and taking up the valuable time of security ist group might bomb a particular target to serve a
experts who must evaluate the threat, causing hundreds purely criminal purpose. Conversely, an individual
of lost work hours and decreases in productivity and bomber may act out of political motives; Timothy
revenue for companies affected. McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, targeted the
The popularity of bombs stems largely from their Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building because it was a
symbol of the federal government, which he believed
malleability. A bomb can weigh as much as 10 tons or
to be oppressive.
as little as a pound, and can be concealed in almost any-
The hoax bomb or bomb scare often occurs after an
thing: a portable CD player, a duffle bag, a trash can, a
actual bombing, but is usually the responsibility of a
car. This variability enables the bomber to suit the bomb
separate and unrelated individual. The bomb scare is
to his or her desire, whether it is to destroy a building,
meant to take advantage of the atmosphere of fear cre-
blow a hole in a safe, or kill dozens of people. The nec-
ated by the possibility of a bombing; for the individ-
essary materials for a bomb’s construction can often
ual who causes it, the spectacle of the public response
be obtained legally and untraceably, with relatively little
to the threat may provide a sense of power or satisfac-
cost. Bombs of great destructive power do not require a
tion. Other individuals attempt to turn the precautions
vast amount of specialized knowledge to assemble.
undertaken by authorities in the event of a bomb threat
Indeed, since the advent of the Internet, almost anyone
to their advantage. For instance, a student might call
can learn simple bomb-making techniques. In addition,
in a threat to his or her school in the hope that the
a terrorist groups or criminal organizations will often
evacuation of the building will enable the person to
count among its members an individual with prior mil-
avoid a class or test.
itary or demolition training, permitting the construction
of more sophisticated devices.
TARGETS OF BOMBERS
The bomber’s target is dependent on his or her purpose.
TYPES OF BOMBERS
The target of a criminal bomber is generally specific
The bomber’s motivations may be roughly divided and unique; that is, the bomb is intended to kill or injure
into two categories, the criminal and the political. All a specific individual, or destroy a particular business,
bombings are of course criminal acts, but a distinction and is not part of an ongoing campaign. Since the
is made between bombers for whom the crime is an criminal bomber chooses the target for personal
end in itself, and those for whom the bombing is reasons, it is often otherwise obscure. The criminal
meant to serve a broader ideological goal. bomber may even attempt to create the impression that
For the criminal bomber, the destruction or injury the bombing itself was an accident.
caused by the bomb enables him or her to attain some Since the goal of the political bomber is to create
personal end—financial gain, revenge on a person or awareness of and garner support for his or her cause,
institution. A bomb may also be used to cover up a the target is usually public, sometimes famous,
crime, for instance, to make it appear that a murdered and the method as spectacular as possible. Further-
person died in an accidental fire. The criminal bomber more, the target is intended to serve as a symbol of
is often a lone individual; many such bombers suffer what the terrorist opposes; the antiabortion group the
from some form of mental illness. Bombing has also Army of God targets doctors who perform abortions
been adopted as a tactic by criminal organizations, and the clinics in which they take place. Unlike crim-
however, not only for the purpose of theft or extortion inal bombers, the terrorist often aims to cause as many