Posts By: Jacob Charles

The fight against explosives

Robert Shaw looks at how improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have evolved over the decades and surveys the technology being developed to defeat them   Since the very first use of explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by terrorists and criminals, the world of counter-IEDs has gradually increased in visibility and importance. The British have spent… Read more »

Back to the bunkers

Timothy Compston reports on why the issue of nuclear-related civil defence is rearing its head again after decades resting in the shadows   As the number of states looking to develop and deploy nuclear weapons continues to grow despite measures such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, what steps should countries on… Read more »

Defending the fortresses

Steve Chambers looks at what can be done to protect buildings against the effects of explosive devices and minimise damage if an attack does happen   As recent events in Boston, Canada and numerous conflict areas around the world have shown, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are increasingly popular weapons for terrorists and other violent groups…. Read more »

The chemical question

Syria stands accused of using chemical weapons against its people. But how reliable is the evidence, asks John Chisholm   According to some recent news reports and the Syria Watch blog, President Assad has authorised the use of chemical weapons on his own people. Other reports claim that elements of the Syrian army have used… Read more »

Disrupt or be disrupted

Clive Gale looks at how the technology used to build disruptors has evolved since the 1970s, helping bomb disposal experts to work more safely   The improvised explosive device (IED) has become the weapon of choice for insurgents and terrorist groups around the world. IEDs first started to evolve in the 1970s, when they were… Read more »

Beyond the Boston bombing

Anthony Tucker-Jones surveys the latest terrorist plots that have blighted North America and says it’s business as usual for the jihadists   Without warning, the double blast caught the spectators and runners on the streets of Boston completely by surprise. The terrible shrapnel-riddled shock wave scythed outward, not upward, and one of the fatalities was… Read more »

Integrate to accumulate

By integrating their security systems using the latest technology, organisations can both improve their efficiency and save money. Stephen Horner reports   Today, there is an ever-increasing requirement for sections of the critical national infrastructure to integrate security and other third party sub-systems in order to create a more cohesive solution with a high level… Read more »

Satcoms to the future

In the aftermath of a terrorist attack, good communications are vital. Ali Zarkesh discusses the importance of satellite communications technology to an all-encompassing homeland security effort   While the roots of terrorism are hotly disputed by scholars, there is no doubt that the threat of terrorism is a constant underlying issue that faces all governments… Read more »

The nuclear question

Roman Vassilenko, deputy director of the Nazarbayev Center in Kazakhstan, reports from an international forum and conference in Oslo addressing the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons   Nuclear weapons are the biggest threat to mankind. That’s my view – and one that’s shared by many. A total of eight countries (five recognised nuclear weapon states… Read more »

To fortify or not to fortify?

By protecting buildings from outside blasts, could we be increasing the risk of damage caused by an explosion on the inside? John Simpson reports   They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this picture of the US Embassy bombing in Turkey is a pertinent example of an interesting question facing those responsible… Read more »