Terror: Living with the bomb

The Islamic State (IS) will disappear, at least as a territorial entity. In Iraq, it is losing its last territories, in Syria, its capital Raqqa is falling. But it will still not be over. IS will dissolve again and go underground.

This is probably what Daesch wants to convey to us in its latest video, taking us to a bomb workshop - allegedly located north of Baghdad. The images come from Terrormonitor.org. They vividly show the practical organization of terror, the craftsmanship, the logistics behind it. The man in the picture is the technician preparing explosives for suicide bombers, the aluminum plate in the picture is the backing for the explosive device of a suicide vest. The explosives are kneaded onto this plate, on which detonating cord has been laid out beforehand. It looks like a baking tray, but it is the explosive foundation for the attack. The plate also ensures, similar to a Claymore mine, that the explosion is directed in a specific direction. To enhance the effect, the bomb plate, the size of a SAPI plate – the reason will be seen later – is filled with metal pieces. In this case, they are balls, but screws and nuts would also work, anything that becomes shrapnel in the explosion and can produce lethal wounds. Finally, the whole thing is neatly wrapped in plastic film and adhesive tape. Order must be maintained.

Like a plate carrier: one in front, one in the back. Two pieces, for as many victims as possible.

In this case, it is actually the shell of a tactical vest in which the bomb is placed. The explosive plates are precisely fitted to the plate pockets of the carrier.

Here they are trying it on. The elements for ignition protrude. Since the combo with the plate carrier over Arab garb is very conspicuous, we would assume that the suicide bomber also wears a uniform of the opposing side for camouflage.

Building bombs in such structures is not the work of a single perpetrator who then blows themselves up. There is a logistical chain at work here. One cell builds the bombs - here, there is already some assembled and ready - another cell handles suicide bombers and accompanies them on their one-time mission. And then the next, then the next, etc.

Thus, terrorism is professionalized. The setback for the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq does not mean that everything is over.