Improvised explosive device facts for kids
An improvised explosive device (IED), often called a roadside bomb, is a type of bomb that is made by people for reasons other than official military use. These devices are put together using everyday materials and can be very dangerous. Groups that are not part of a country's official army, like paramilitary groups or guerrilla forces, sometimes use IEDs to cause harm or fear. They are often used in unconventional warfare, which is a type of fighting that doesn't follow traditional rules.
Contents
What is an Improvised Explosive Device?
An IED is a bomb made from parts that are not usually used for military weapons. It can be put together in many different ways. The main goal of an IED is to cause an explosion. These devices can be hidden almost anywhere, like on roadsides, in vehicles, or even in buildings.
How are IEDs Used?
IEDs are often used to target vehicles or groups of people. They can be triggered in several ways, such as by remote control, by someone stepping on them, or by a vehicle driving over them. Because they are "improvised," their design can vary greatly, making them hard to predict.
Staying Safe from IEDs
Because IEDs can be hidden, it's important for people in areas where they might be used to be aware of their surroundings. Safety measures often involve training people to spot suspicious objects or unusual changes in their environment.
Detection and Disposal
Finding and safely removing IEDs is a very dangerous job. Special teams, often called Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, are trained for this. They use special tools, including robots, to examine and disarm these devices from a safe distance. This helps protect the people doing the dangerous work.
Armored Vehicles and Protection
To protect people from IEDs, many vehicles used in conflict zones are heavily armored. These vehicles, like the Cougar or Stryker, are designed to withstand powerful blasts. Their strong armor helps keep the people inside safe, even if an IED explodes nearby.
Images for kids
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This Cougar in Al Anbar, Iraq, was hit by a directed charge IED.
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X-ray of a suitcase showing a pipe bomb and a laptop.
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An improvised explosive device in Iraq. The special copper shape on top creates a powerful projectile.
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A U.S. Marine in Iraq with a robot used for disposing of buried devices.
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An Israeli IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer, used by the IDF to clear heavy belly charges and booby-trapped buildings.
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U.S. Marines with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) destroying an improvised explosive device cache in southern Afghanistan in June 2010.
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A Stryker lies on its side after a buried IED blast in Iraq (2007).
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An oil-drum roadside IED removed from a culvert in 1984.
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A Wheelbarrow counter-IED robot on the streets of Northern Ireland in 1978.
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Captured IEDs from a hidden stash left behind by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria, January 26, 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Artefacto explosivo improvisado para niños
