What is an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)?

About Improvised Explosive Device (IED):

• IED is a type of unconventional explosive weapon that can take any form and be activated in a variety of ways.
• IEDs are used by criminals, vandals, terrorists, suicide bombers, and insurgents.
• Because they are improvised, IEDs can come in many forms, ranging from a small pipe bomb to a sophisticated device capable of causing massive damage and loss of life.
• IEDs can be carried or delivered in a vehicle; carried, placed, or thrown by a person; delivered in a package; or concealed on the roadside.
• The extent of damage caused by an IED depends on its size, construction, and placement and whether it incorporates a high explosive or propellant.
• The term IED came into common usage during the Iraq War that began in 2003.
• Elements of an IED:
  • It consists of a variety of components that include an initiator, switch, main charge, power source, and container.
  • IEDs may be surrounded by or packed with additional materials or “enhancements” such as nails, glass, or metal fragments designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled by the explosion.
• An IED can be initiated by a variety of methods depending on the intended target.
• Materials Used as Explosives in IEDs:
  • Many commonly available materials, such as fertilizer, gunpowder, and hydrogen peroxide, are used as explosive materials in IEDs.
  • Explosives contain fuel and an oxidizer, which provides the oxygen needed to sustain the reaction.