Caleb Foster
A nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device containing nails or similar sharp metal objects that act as shrapnel, maximising damage and injury when the bomb goes off. Nail bombs are often used by terrorists and suicide bombers to cause large numbers of casualties when detonated in crowded places. They have been used in several attacks around the world, including in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, in the US, the UK, Germany, Finland, Indonesia, Pakistan, Syria, and Hungary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An anti-personnel explosive device containing nails to increase its effectiveness at harming victims |
| Nails | Act as shrapnel, leading to more injuries than explosives alone |
| Type of Weapon | Flechette weapon |
| Other Shrapnel Used | Steel balls, nail heads, screws, needles, broken razors, darts, and other small metal objects |
| Use | To create a larger radius of destruction, especially in crowded areas |
| Users | Terrorists, including suicide bombers |
| Detectability | Can be detected by electromagnetic sensors and standard metal detectors |
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What You'll Learn
Nail bombs are anti-personnel explosive devices
A nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device designed to cause extensive harm to victims. They are packed with nails or similar metal objects, such as steel balls, screws, needles, and broken razors, which act as shrapnel, or "frag". The nails increase the bomb's effectiveness at harming victims, as the metal fragments are accelerated by the force of the blast to speeds beyond 2,000 miles per hour—faster than the average speeding bullet. This means that the nails cause a larger radius of destruction and almost certainly more injury than the explosives alone would.
Nail bombs are often used by terrorists, including suicide bombers, as they have the capacity to cause a large number of casualties when detonated in crowded places. They have been used in several attacks in recent years, including the 2016 Brussels terrorist attacks, the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, and the 2018 Kerch Polytechnic College attack.
The use of nail bombs is not a new phenomenon, however. One of the earliest recorded instances of a nail bomb explosion occurred on March 6, 1970, when three members of the Weather Underground were killed in the accidental explosion of a nail bomb they intended to set off at an army base in New Jersey. In the 1990s, nail bombs were used in a series of attacks in London, targeted against ethnic minorities and LGBT people.
Nail bombs are typically homemade devices, as military-grade explosives are closely guarded and often unavailable to modern terrorists. They can be detected by electromagnetic sensors and standard metal detectors.
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They contain nails or similar metal objects
A nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device containing nails or similar metal objects, designed to cause extensive wounding and increase its effectiveness at harming victims. The nails and other sharp objects act as shrapnel, leading almost certainly to more injury than the explosives alone would. Such weapons are considered flechette weapons, which use bits of shrapnel (steel balls, nail heads, screws, needles, broken razors, darts, and other small metal objects) to create a larger radius of destruction.
Nail bombs are often used by terrorists, including suicide bombers, as they cause larger numbers of casualties when detonated in crowded places. They have been used in several attacks, including the 1999 London nail bombings by the neo-Nazi David Copeland, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the 2016 Brussels Airport terrorist attacks, the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, and various other incidents worldwide.
Nail bombs are designed to maximize injury and death by combining the explosive force of the bomb with the penetrating impact of the nails and metal objects. The nails are typically packed around the explosive, creating a deadly combination that can lead to severe injuries, including penetrating trauma, blunt force trauma, and blast injuries. The use of nails also increases the range of the explosion, as the nails are propelled outward in all directions, creating a wider area of impact.
These devices can be detected by electromagnetic sensors and standard metal detectors, which has led to the successful discovery and defusing of some nail bombs before they could cause harm. For example, in 2007, a nail bomb was discovered in a car in London's West End and defused by police, potentially averting a terrorist attack.
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These metal objects act as shrapnel
A nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device containing nails or similar metal objects that act as shrapnel, causing serious injuries to victims. The nails and metal objects are packed around the explosive to create a larger radius of destruction. These metal objects can include steel balls, screw heads, needles, broken razors, darts, and other small, sharp items. When detonated, these metal objects are projected outward with great force, penetrating and tearing human flesh, leading to severe injuries or death.
The use of nails and metal shrapnel in the bomb enhances its effectiveness at harming victims, especially in crowded areas. The metal objects increase the likelihood of injury and the number of casualties, as they can penetrate and cause damage over a wider area than the explosive blast alone. This makes nail bombs particularly attractive to terrorists and suicide bombers who intend to inflict mass casualties in populated places.
Nail bombs have been used in numerous terrorist attacks worldwide, causing significant harm and loss of life. For example, in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, a nail bomb killed 22 people and injured 1,017 others. Similarly, in a 2002 nail bombing in a mall in Myyrmäki, Finland, seven people died and 159 were injured. The use of nails and metal shrapnel in these attacks contributed to the high number of casualties.
The destructive power of nail bombs lies not only in the initial blast of the explosive but also in the fragmentation and penetration of the metal objects. These metal objects are often small enough to cause damage to internal organs and vital structures in the body without necessarily exiting the body, increasing the likelihood of fatalities. The sharp and jagged nature of the nails and shrapnel can also lead to severe bleeding and extensive tissue damage.
The presence of metal objects in nail bombs also has detection implications. Unlike purely explosive devices, nail bombs can be detected by standard metal detectors and electromagnetic sensors. This detection capability can potentially help law enforcement and security personnel identify and neutralize nail bombs before they detonate, thereby mitigating their destructive impact.
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They are used by terrorists and suicide bombers
A nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device containing nails or similar sharp objects that act as shrapnel, maximising harm to victims. They are often used by terrorists, including suicide bombers, as they cause a greater number of casualties when detonated in crowded places. The nails increase the radius of destruction, leading to more injuries than explosives alone.
Nail bombs have been used in numerous terrorist attacks, including the 1970 Greenwich Village townhouse explosion in New York, where three members of the Weather Underground were killed in an accidental explosion. In 1999, neo-Nazi David Copeland planted several nail bombs in London, targeting ethnic minorities and the LGBT community. In 2002, a 19-year-old named Petri Gerdt committed a nail bombing in a Finnish mall, killing seven people and injuring 159.
Nail bombs have also been used in terrorist attacks by extremist groups such as ISIL. In 2016, nail bombs were used in the Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station attacks, and in a separate incident in Budapest, injuring two policemen and a taxi driver. In 2017, a nail bomb was detonated at the Manchester Arena during a concert, resulting in 22 deaths and over 1000 injuries.
Due to their deadly nature, nail bombs are a significant concern for security services. They can be detected using electromagnetic sensors and standard metal detectors, but their effectiveness in crowded areas makes them a favoured choice for terrorists and suicide bombers aiming to inflict mass casualties.
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They have been used in several attacks since 1970
A nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device containing nails to increase its effectiveness at harming victims. The nails act as shrapnel, leading almost certainly to more injury in inhabited areas than the explosives alone would. They are often used by terrorists and suicide bombers to maximise the number of casualties when detonated in crowded places.
Nail bombs have been used in several attacks since 1970, including:
- The Greenwich Village townhouse explosion in 1970, where three members of the Weather Underground were killed in the accidental explosion of a nail bomb intended to be set off at a dance at the Fort Dix, New Jersey Army base.
- Several nail bombings occurred during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, by both Republicans and Loyalists.
- In 1981, American Mafia figure Philip Testa was killed by a nail bomb in Philadelphia.
- Mark Hofmann was convicted of murdering two people with a nail bomb in 1985.
- In 1989, football hooligans threw nail bombs at supporters of a rival club in the Netherlands.
- The 1999 London nail bombings, a series of explosions in Brixton, Brick Lane, and Soho, targeting London's black, Bengali, and LGBT communities. These bombings were carried out by David Copeland, a neo-Nazi, and killed three people, injuring 140.
- The 2002 Myyrmäki nail bombing in Finland, where a 19-year-old named Petri Gerdt detonated a nail bomb in a local mall, killing seven people, including himself, and injuring 159.
- The 2004 Cologne nail bombing, detonated by the Nazi terrorist group National Socialist Underground in a Turkish shopping quarter, wounding 22 people.
- The 2005 Indonesian marketplace nail bombing, where a second undetonated bomb was also found nearby.
- The 2007 Sherpao nail bombing in Pakistan, detonated by a suicide bomber inside a mosque filled with holiday worshippers, killing at least 50 people and injuring over 100.
- The 2008 Exeter bombing, where a nail bomb exploded in the attacker's face as he was trying to arm it, and another nail bomb was found inside the café after evacuation.
- The 2011 Minsk Metro nail bombing in Belarus, which killed 15 people and injured 204.
- The 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, where pressure cooker bombs filled with bits of metal, nails, and ball bearings were used, killing three people and injuring over 260.
- The 2016 Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station nail bombings, carried out by ISIL, killing 32 people and injuring over 300.
- The 2016 Budapest nail bombing, which injured two policemen and a taxi driver.
- The 2017 Manchester Arena nail bombing, which killed 22 people, including children, and injured 1,017.
- The 2018 Kerch Polytechnic College nail bomb attack, where Vladislav Roslyakov killed 20 people using a nail bomb and a pump-action shotgun.
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Frequently asked questions
A nail bomb is an anti-personnel explosive device containing nails or similar sharp objects that act as shrapnel.
Nails increase the bomb's effectiveness at harming victims. The nails act as shrapnel, leading to more injuries than the explosives alone would.
Several notable nail-bombing attacks include the 1999 London nail bombings by neo-Nazi David Copeland, the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Nail bombs are named after the inclusion of nails or similar sharp objects packed around the explosive device.
Nail bombs can be detected using electromagnetic sensors and standard metal detectors due to the presence of metal objects within the device.
