Bomb Squad

by NEWTON MICHAEL

• ISBN13: 9781604136241
• ISBN10: 1604136243
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-11-01
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

Criminals use explosives for murder, intimidation, and revenge as well as for robbing banks, homes, and other targets. As long ago as the 17th century, would-be assassins used explosives in a failed plot to kill England's King James I; since then, militant groups such as the Irish Republican Army, the Ku Klux Klan, and Al-Qaeda have relied on bombings to strike terror into those who oppose them. Law enforcement officials need a special response for this unique form of violence. Bomb Squad details the history and evolution of the techniques used to locate and disarm explosives and the risks involved for officers who face death every time they respond to a bomb threat.

Author Biography

Michael Newton has published 213 books since 1977, with 24 forthcoming from various houses through 2011. His history of the Florida Ku Klux Klan (The Invisible Empire, 2001) won the Florida Historical Society's 2002 Rembert Patrick Award for Best Book in Florida History, and his Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology was one of the American Library Association's Outstanding Reference Works in 2006. His nonfiction work includes numerous volumes for Chelsea House Publishers and Facts On File.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 7
Explosives	p. 13
Bombing	p. 25
Underworld Bombing	p. 37
Mail Bombs	p. 47
Bomb Squad Fatalities	p. 56
Explosives Detection	p. 68
Rendered Safe	p. 80
Loose Nukes	p. 93
Chronology	p. 105
Endnotes	p. 109
Bibliography	p. 118
Further Resources	p. 119
Index	p. 120
About the Author	p. 127
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Criminals use explosives to kill, maim, and intimidate, and as a tool for robbing banks, safes, homes, and other targets. Terrorists first utilized explosives in the 17th century in a failed plot to assassinate England's King James I. Since then, militant groups such as the Irish Republican Army, the Ku Klux Klan, and al Qaeda have used bombings to kill, injure, and terrify their victims. Law enforcement officials have a special response for this unique form of violence. Bomb Squad details the history and evolution of that response, the techniques used to locate and disarm explosives, and the risks involved for officers who face death every time they respond to a bomb threat.
Key topics covered include:
Types of explosives
Evolution of bomb squad units
Serial bombers
Political bombings
Use of explosives by organized crime
Protective gear used by bomb squad officers
Bomb detection tools and techniques
Methods used to trace and identify bombers.