Suicide Bombing and Its Effectiveness
Suicide bombing is a tactic used by some terrorist groups to achieve their political goals. Its effectiveness is often attributed to its ability to cause large-scale casualties and to inflict damage at a low cost.
The Rising Popularity of Suicide Terrorism
Although suicide terrorism is not new, it has gained in popularity in recent years. It has become a threat to global security and a major factor in the increasing violence in many parts of the world.
The Characteristics of Suicide Terrorism
While the origins of suicide terrorism can be traced to a range of violent extremists, it has developed into a distinct and dangerous weapon with a complex set of characteristics. These include psychological expertise, tactical and operational planning, and an understanding of the emotional nuances that accompany this type of violence.
The Goals of Suicide Bombers
A rational suicide bomber has a definite political goal and attacks specific targets that further this objective. In contrast, a suicide bomber who belongs to an organisation with a less clear and broader objective may choose to attack soft targets such as civilians, or indiscriminately to instill fear.
Use of Suicide Terrorism by Various Groups
The use of suicide terrorism by groups with national-religious aims has increased dramatically in the last several decades. It has also been used by secular guerrilla groups such as the Sri Lankan Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Suicide Bombings in Urban Areas
In addition to its use in military campaigns, suicide bombings have been increasingly used in urban areas as a form of terrorism against civilian targets. They are a threat to public health, as they can cause massive casualties in confined spaces and rapidly spread their impact throughout the city.
Challenges for Medical Facilities
One of the most serious challenges for medical facilities that treat victims of suicide bombings is the high volume of patients brought into the emergency department in a short space of time. Survivors have been found to suffer extensive tissue damage, including multiple penetrating wounds, blast injury, and burns.
Injuries and Complications
As with all mass casualty events, the most serious injuries are likely to occur at the site of detonation, where the explosion will be most powerful. These attacks pose a significant challenge to the most experienced emergency departments. Those people directly adjacent to the bombing site are likely to be killed. Others will sustain varying degrees of injury, ranging from life-threatening to minor.
The most common injuries from suicide bombings in confined spaces are multiple penetrating wounds of varying severity and location, blast injuries, and burns. These injuries are often devastating and result in the need for prolonged hospitalization.
In addition, victims who are in a position to escape the attack may be injured by fragments that fling themselves at them. This could cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord compression, and severe abdominal injuries.
Another complication of these attacks is the fact that survivors are frequently brought to different hospitals for treatment because they develop various patterns of injuries, requiring them to be separated from their loved ones at the scene. In this way, family members who are unaware of their condition and location are unable to contact them or provide information regarding their injuries.
