Keyword operational tactics

What are “dirty bombs”?

A radiological weapon, also known as a dirty bomb or radiological dispersion device, is, according to the definition of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, a weapon of mass destruction, which, according to modern understanding, consists of a conventional explosive device that, when exploded, releases radioactive material into it distributed throughout the environment. Unlike a nuclear weapon, there is no nuclear reaction.

Dirty bombs are also called explosive devices that contain biological or chemical substances (USBV-B or -C). However, the distinction from other B weapons and C weapons is imprecise, as the distinction between the effect of nuclear fission and the effect of contamination is no longer applicable.

psychological effect

Dirty bombs have an enormous psychological impact: they are perceived as threatening and very dangerous.

Further information

• Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief: “CBRN Protection”, https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Themen/CBRN-Schutz/cbrn-schutz_node.html
• Federal Office for Radiation Protection: “Misuse of radioactive material in conjunction with conventional explosives (“dirty bomb”)”, https://www.bfs.de/DE/themen/ion/notfallschutz/bfs/gefahrenabwehr/schmutzige-bombe.html#:~:text=%20%20%201%20%22Schmutzige%20Bomben%22%20sind%20Vorrichtungen,%22Schmutzigen%20Bombe%22%20werden%20im%20Allgemeinen%20%C3%BCbersch%C3%A4tzt.%20More%20

Publications

• SWR2: “The fear of the dirty bomb”, https://www.swr.de/-/id=14292302/property=download/nid=660374/1j3tg9/swr2-wissen-20141110.pdf
• Deutsche Welle: “Technology against Terror: Dirty Bombs in Containers”, https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/technik-gegen-terror-schmutzige-bomben-im-container-100.html
• Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung: “Anti-terror exercise in Mannheim: A dead person in the bathroom, a laboratory in the kitchen,” https://www.rnz.de/politik/suedwest_artikel,-anti-terror-Uebung-in-mannheim-ein-toter-im-bad-ein-labor-in-der-kueche-_arid,469119.html
• SPIEGELonline: “What is a “dirty bomb”?” https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/hintergrund-was-ist-eine-schmutzige-bombe-a-200253.html
• Süddeutsche Zeitung online: “How great the danger from “dirty bombs” is”, https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/atomwaffen-wie-gross-die-gefahr-durch-schmutzige-bomben-ist-1.2930015
• heise online: “Dirty bombs as psychological weapons”, https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Schmutzige-Bomben-als-Psycho-Waffe-276927.html

Tactical self-protection for emergency services against IEDs or IEDs

Emergency forces, including those from the non-police and non-military sectors, are increasingly dealing with dangers posed by unconventional fire or explosive devices (IEDs) or improved explosive devices (IEDs).

How can the emergency services protect themselves directly against this? What measures must be carried out when you first arrive at the scene? What related tasks does an operations or section leader have and what do a platoon, group or squad leader have? How do you protect deployed forces from a so-called Second hit?

New challenges for authorities and organizations with security tasks

The topic of “security” and the associated questions of tactical self-protection of emergency services have been changing in many ways for several years.

Examples of reasons include:

• Classic conflicts between nations become conflicts between cultures;
• well-known confrontation mechanisms become asymmetrical;
• Perpetrators or groups of perpetrators can no longer be clearly identified;
• State authorities and also dangerous people are in an escalating state of technological upgrading;
• the subjective feeling of security deteriorates;
• organized crime is increasing;
• etc.