What are Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs that were used in the Bengaluru bomb blast?

The first day of March was an unhappy one for Bengaluru, as over nine people got injured in an explosion in the Rameshwaram Cafe in the Whitefield area of Bengaluru. It is said that this explosion took place possibly due to an improvised explosive device (IED).

Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka said that CCTV footage shows a man keeping a bag in the Rameshwaram cafe. The Chief Minister further said that this one was not a high-intensity blast, but it was definitely an improvised blast.

What exactly are Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)?

An Improvised Explosive Device is nothing but a homemade bomb. The United States Department of Homeland Security expressed through a factsheet that since these bombs are improvised, they can come in a wide array of forms, ranging from small ones to huge sophisticated devices that can cause massive destruction.

An Improvised Explosive Device can be easily stationed with the help of a vehicle. It can also be thrown by an individual and carried or placed in a package. It can also be smartly concealed anywhere on the road. These bombs are not new; they have been used for about a hundred years. However, it was in 2003 that the term entered common usage for the first time.

How much damage can be caused by an Improvised Explosive Device?

The purpose of an Improvised Explosive Device is not usually to kill or injure. These, instead, are made to be used in active war zones for the purpose of distracting the opposing parties. As per the US Department of Homeland Security, it is the size, construction, and placement of an Improvised Explosive Device that can determine the damage it can cause. Moreover, whether an Improvised Explosive Device consists of a high explosive or not is also one of the factors that determine the damage it can cause.

The small Improvised Explosive Devices can be deployed easily and cause less damage than the larger ones.

Elements of an Improvised Explosive Device

An Improvised Explosive Device consists of some basic components. These components come in a wide array of forms, based on the resources available while making them. The basic components include a triggering mechanism or an initiator. This sets the explosion. Another important component is a switch, which actually arms the explosive. A main charge, a power source, and a container are also some of the important components of an Improvised Explosive Device.