LECTURE NOTE ON IED
SCOPE OF THE COURSE
❖ DEFINITION
❖ CERTAINTY OF AN IED
❖ TYPE OF IEDS
❖ COMPONENT OF AN IED
❖ MATERIALS USED AS EXPLOSIVE IN IED
❖ EFFECT OF IED
❖ IDENTIFICATION OF IED
• Ground sign awareness
• 5/25 meter check
• Vulnerable point and area
❖ WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN IED THREAT
❖ WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN IED EXPLOSION
❖ WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A SECURITY AGENCY IN THE AFTERMATH OF IED EXPLOSION
❖ WHAT TO PROVIDE WHEN YOU MAKE A REPORT
INTRO
As future leaders it is essential to understand the threats posed by IED and how to counter them. IED have become a
significant threat in modern warfare and their use has increased in various conflicts around the world.
DEFINITION
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) is defined as a device fabricated with explosive in an improvised manner with
intent to injure, kill and/or destroy property.
IED is also the fabrication of homemade materials or destructive device to destroy, incapacitate or distract life and
property.
CERTAINTY OF AN IED
An Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) is actualizing by some fact, of which are the following
It is designed to cause damage or disruption
It is made to no particular standard
It is subject to unintentional detonation
It can be triggered by a wide range of environmental effect
It can be construct with anything that occupy space
It requires an initiating system to detonate the explosive materials.
It is assemble outside military production
It may incorporate military store component
Government approach is to deter IED threat
TYPE OF IEDS
The types of IED has Been Group into four (4) places
Remote Controlled IED (RCIED)
Command Wire IED (CWIED)
Vehicle Borne IED (VBIED)
Victim Actuated IED (IED)
REMOTE CONTROLLED IED (RCIED): initiated electronically with a wireless method consisting of a transmitter and
a receiver. E.g. Radio system, Key Fob, cell phone, modified car alarms, wireless door bells, car door opener and
garage door openers.
COMMAND WIRE IED (CWIED): initiated with a wire and power source. The RCIED and CWIED are the most
difficult devices to detect without the aid of EOD Equipments. Therefore where there are no equipment, security
operative must rely absolutely on their inner feelings the something is not just right with an item or something is just
out of place.
VEHICLE BORNE IED (VBIED): A vehicle filled with explosives, driven to a target and detonated while either moving
or static.
VICTIM ACTUATED IED (IED): This is an IED designed to detonate and cause injury or death to an unsuspected
target when a hidden or harmless appearing item is triggered. The devices are often placed on road or walk paths
and may be triggered when the victim performed some functions like opening of doors/bags, sitting on chairs, picking
up something or switching on something.
COMPONENT OF AN IED
All IEDs are made up of 5components. The verity and variation of an IED are endless, particularly as they are
manufactured to low standards. However all parts can still be identified as the 5 components.
a. Switch
b. Packaging
c. Power source
d. Initiator
e. Main charge
SWITCH: The switch is the component that causes the device to function. The switch categories the type of device,
of which there are 3 main types:
1. TIME: A digital or analogue timer is used to initiate the device without the enemy having to be with the
device. (preset Timer)
2. COMMAND: The main types are command wire or radio controlled.
3. Victim Operated (VO): This is where the victim interacts with the switch unknowingly and initiates the device.
E.g. pressure plate
PACKAGING: This are housing or casing that hold the IED component, it can be utilized in a number of ways, such
as concealing the device, or to move the device into place, such as back pack.
POWER SOURCE: This provides the power for the initiator. Most commonly this is a battery.
INITIATOR: The initiator or detonator is a sensitive piece of explosive that initiates the main charge to explode. This
has to be in intimate contact with the main charge, so they are usually located together or joined with a detonation
cord link.
MAIN CHARGE: The Main charge provides the explosive material force of the IED. There are many examples but
commonly observed MCs are UXO or HME
MATERIALS USED AS EXPLOSIVE IN IED
• Fertilizer
• Gunpowder
• Hydrogen peroxide, brake fluid, herbicide, disinfectants, cleaning solvents, Ammonium nitrate
• Fuel
• Oxidizer to provides oxygen needed to sustain the reaction
EFFECT OF IED
The extent of damage caused by an IED depends on the following essentials
• Size
• Construction
• Placement
• Explosive content
The effect of IED can be classify into three, which are
IMMEDIATE EFFECT
1. Blast injuries: These are injuries from blast waves. E.g. Traumatic Brain Injuries, Broken Bones, Internal
Injuries
2. Shrapnel Injuries: Flying shrapnel’s can cause laceration, puncture wounds
3. Burns: IEDs can cause severe burns from the heat generated by the explosion
4. Death
LONG TERM EFFECT
1. Physical Disabilities: Amputation, Paralysis, Chronic Pain
2. Psychological Trauma: Post traumatic stress, depression, Anxiety, Palpitation
3. Economic Impact: Damage Infrastructures, Loss of property, Disruption Of economic Activity.
4. Social Impact: Displacement Of People, Disruption of social services
SOCIETAL EFFECT
1. Fear And Insecurity : Undermining trust in government and institution
2. Social Unrest: Protest, Demonstration of civil unrest
3. Humanitarian Crisis: Contributing to Displacement of people, shortage food and water.
IDENTIFICATION OF IED
Most IEDs that have been found on operations are because of ground sign awareness. Search equipment such as a
vallon is just an Aid, ground sign awareness is the most important skill in the finding IEDs.
GROUND SIGN AWARENESS
Understanding what to look for will help a soldier to spot an IED before it is initiated. Every interaction the enemy has
with the land will leave ground sign.
THE CHARACTERISTICS ARE:
• Regularity,
• Flattening,
• Transfer,
• Colour change,
• DIscardables (foreign materials),
• Disturbance.
Examples Of Ground Sign ON Emplaced IEDs
a. Smooth surface on a coarse road: this will shows flattening and its likely indicate a possible pressure plate
b. Poorly concealed device: could be a luring avenue of friendly forces into the area
c. Disturbance and colour change
d. Regularity in term of possibly concealment
5/25 METERS CHECK
5/25 Meters Check: This is critical procedure for visual inspection to detect potential IED or other hazard in a given
area or high risk environment which is always recommended to enhance safety of the troops mission and the native.
E.g. stop and observe visual inspection, check for tripwires.
25 Meters: this simply means expanding your observation area, through looking for patterns or abnormality in the
environment, likewise checking for abandoned or suspicious items, such as bags, boxes, containers e.t.c that could
potentially contain IED.
PURPOSE OF 5/25 METERS CHECKS
1. Detect potential IED
2. Provide an early warning
3. Enhance situational awareness
IMPORTANCE OF 5/25 METERS CHECKS
The security agency such as military and other law enforcement are often task to work in proximity to unknoiwn
ground, and as such must ensure the practices of 5/25 meters check.
When a patrol leaves a secure camp, the soldiers should constantly monitor their surroundings for the presence of
possible signs of an IED, this is known as atmospherics and looking for absence of the normal and presence of the
abnormal.
When the patrol (mounted or dismounted) stops or stays in a place for a short time, each soldier, even without an
order from the vehicle commander, should scan the area around the vehicle fof sign of abnormality, which might be
an emplaced IED
The vehicle driver should never stop the vehicle in a VP unless it has been isolated and searched through. These
areas include the following; (a) a change in the road surface (b) change above, in front or behind a culvert (c) shaded
area under a lonely tree.
Thus, whenever vehicles are stopping for an extended period, they should stay away from roads and paths because
that is where the IED threat is most likely.
VULNERABLE POINT AND AREA
Before heading out on patrol, a map recce can be conducted to understand where the VPs and Vas on the
route are. This will then be used by the patrol commander to plan where the drill can be adopted.
Vulnerable point is a specific location on the ground where it is advantageous to the enemy to emplace an IED.
They are split into 2 types
a. Ground: this is where the layout and type of ground make it easy or advantageous to the enemy. E.G cross
roads where vehicles briefly stop, linear features to conceal command wires, channeled points such as
bridges, ends in road where vehicle have to slow down.
b. Situational: this is here the friendly forces have set a pattern that has creates the vulnerable point. E.G if a
patrol stops in the same place to rest every day, a patrol uses the same routes every day, a vehicle check
point be conducted at the same time and place on certain days.
Vulnerable Area can e identified for one of two reasons
a. A collections of Ps closer together than 50m
b. When the circumstances that make a piece of ground a VP, are applicable to a large area. For example; a
300m stretch of road that is untracked and is used by friendly forces every day.
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN IED THREAT
There are three major actions expected from individuals and security operatives in the event of an IED incident
a. EVACCUATION b. CORDON c. IMFORM THE BOMB EXPERT
Thus, do not approach, touch or move any suspected item or device. CALL THE EXPECTS, DO NOT TEMPER
STEP TO TAKE IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS
• If you see it, say it- Basically it can be difficult to determine when to report something suspicious, but you
must say it.
• Trust your instincts- if something feels wrong, don’t ignore it.
• Never Assume- Do not assume that someone else has already reported it
• Keep Distant- Ensure you are far-away from any suspicious package, do not approach or temper with it.
• Call local authority
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN IED EXPLOSION
There are three major action expected from security operatives in the event of an IED explosion incident.
a. Evacuation of the injured victims
b. Cordon and preservation of the site to avoid contamination
c. Inform the bomb expect for post blast investigation and to make save the scene in case of secondary
devices.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A SECURITY AGENCY IN THE AFTERMATH OF IED EXPLOSION
a. Saving lives comes first: make sure that the injured are given medical attention, leave the dead for later
b. Security: maintain a strong perimeter defense, be ready for a secondary attack or device, and keep the
public out of the crime scene.
c. Hygiene Safety: always wear gloves, be careful handling body parts.
d. Ensure free flow of traffic
e. Environmental Safety: do not enter damaged buildings unless you are sure they are stable
f. Notify the bomb squad: do not touch or move explosives or suspect devices.
WHAT TO PROVIDE WHEN YOU MAKE A REPORT
• Your Name
• Your location
• A description of what you thing is suspicious
• The time you saw it
Afterward; responding officer will assess the situation for evacuation by expert using appropriated technology
E.g. X-ray system, bomb disposal robot
C-IED (COUNTER IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE)
1. Definition - Counter-IED (Counter-Improvised Explosive Device) refers to the strategies, tactics,
technologies, and procedures used to detect, neutralize, and mitigate the threat posed by IEDs.
2. Component of IED:- *Switch *initiator* Main charge* Power source * Body
TYPESOFSWITCH
TIME: A digital or analogue preset timer is used to initiate the device without the enemy having to be with
the device.
COMMAND: radio and signal
VICTIM OPERATED (VO): This is where the victim interacts with the switch unknowingly and initiates the
device.
3. 4C’s
• CONFIRM- once suspected, it is confirmed
• CLEAR- move away from the suspect package
• CORDON- Encircled the suspected package
• CONTROL- Making sure innocent persons doesn’t come close to the package
4. ICP
An Incident Control Post (ICP) is a location or command center set up during emergency or crisis situations,
particularly in the context of military to respond to an incident or emergency..
5. CAGE
CHANNELED – A major road or route leading to your objective.
AIM MARKER – These maybe natural or artificial features used to mark troops.
GROUND –Check out for ground sign awareness
ENVIRONMENT –Checking for presence of abnormal, absent of normal
6. KLE – Key Leadership Engagement
KLE is a strategic and planned approach to building relationships and fostering cooperation with key figures
that hold significant power, authority, or influence with an operative environment.
