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Car bomb

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A car bomb is a device built to explode inside a vehicle.

Iraq carbomb
Iraq carbomb

These are also called vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, or VBIEDs. They can be small cars or large trucks. People use them to harm others or damage buildings. Some are used to target people inside the vehicle. Others are parked near buildings to cause damage from the outside. A vehicle can hide a bomb and allow a person to leave.

061509 story4
061509 story4

There are many ways to make a bomb go off. Some are connected to the car's ignition system. Others use a timer so the person can get away safely. A person might use a remote control to trigger the blast. Some bombs go off when a door opens or a pedal is pressed. A tilt fuse can also be used in a bomb. This is a small tube filled with mercury. When the car bumps or turns, the mercury moves and completes a circuit.

Iraq carbomb
Iraq carbomb

Using vehicles to carry bombs is not a new idea. In the 16th century, Dutch forces used ships filled with explosives. These were called hellburners. Later, people used horse carts to carry bombs. In 1927, Andrew Kehoe used a truck in Michigan. This event killed 45 people and destroyed part of a school. In the 1920s, a wagon was used in a bombing on Wall Street. These early methods paved the way for modern car bombs.

061509 story4
061509 story4

Many different groups have used car bombs for many reasons. In 1939, the Irgun group used donkeys to carry bombs in a market. In 1947, the Lehi group bombed a police station in Haifa. During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the PIRA used car bombs. They saw them as a way to disrupt the government. In 1983, a bombing in Beirut killed 241 U.S. peacekeepers. In 1995, a truck bomb in Oklahoma City killed 168 people.

Oklahomacitybombing-DF-ST-98-01356
Oklahomacitybombing-DF-ST-98-01356

Today, some people use armored vehicles for these attacks. These are called SVBIEDs. Drivers add metal plates to protect themselves from gunfire. This armor can cover the wheels and the driver's view.

USMC-100727-M-6126D-003
USMC-100727-M-6126D-003

To stay safe, many cities use special defenses. They use roadblocks, concrete blocks, or metal barriers. Some places close major roads to keep cars away from important buildings. This helps keep people at a safe distance from any danger.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Oklahomacitybombing-DF-ST-98-01356.jpg
Oklahomacitybombing-DF-ST-98-01356.jpg
File:Iraq carbomb.jpg
Iraq carbomb.jpg
File:USMC-100727-M-6126D-003.jpg
USMC-100727-M-6126D-003.jpg
File:061509 story4.jpg
061509 story4.jpg
File:Car bomb in Iraq.jpg
Car bomb in Iraq.jpg
File:Scene of Viet Cong terrorist bombing in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam., 1965.jpg
Scene of Viet Cong terrorist bombing in...
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