How to protect yourself from an explosion.

How to protect yourself from an explosion.

How to protect yourself from an explosion.

A car is a favorite place for a criminal to hide explosive devices, unless it is being inspected, because a car provides the ability to use explosive devices with virtually any method of detonation, low power and, therefore, size, and lead to an effective end result. This is due to the technical and design features of the car. This should never be forgotten and the inspection of vehicles must be carried out without fail. A modern car is a complex technical complex made of metal, electronics, organic and synthetic materials, so the use of numerous technical means used during inspection is difficult. The driver must necessarily participate in the inspection of the car (he knows all the design features of the car or changes in the design that he made himself). Therefore, the driver of the car must have the skills to search for and recognize explosive devices. The same applies to the inspection of any vehicle (airplane, ship, train, etc.) — technical specialists who know the vulnerable design features of the vehicle must always participate in the inspection. For inspection, a special inspection kit must be completed, taking into account all the design features of a specific type of transport. For a car, in addition to special search equipment for detecting explosives (explosives) and explosive devices, the following are used first of all:

•probes
•powerful flashlights
• rope with a hook (cat)
• sets of inspection mirrors
• endoscope
• set of tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, etc.).

Inspection of the car can be divided into two parts:

1. External inspection.
2. Internal inspection.

Simultaneously with the inspection of the vehicle for explosives, a preventive inspection is carried out to identify possible failure of the braking system, steering, wheel mounts, etc. by the criminal; for the presence of toxic substances (usually placed in the ventilation system of the passenger compartment), radiation monitoring is carried out.

As already mentioned, the explosive device in a car can be activated by various methods of detonation, different principles of operation of the switch are used. The electric method of detonation can be used both with an autonomous power source, and first of all with power supply from the car network, starting from the battery and ending with any consumer of electric energy, compact explosive devices can be installed. Moreover, using individual consumers of electric energy, such as the windshield washer button, turning on the radio, turn signal, etc., it is possible to achieve the desired deceleration (estimated time of explosion).

The next principle used in a car is a situation related to heating — an increase in the temperature of the radiator, engine, exhaust pipes, etc. Here, chemical fuses are used, highly sensitive initiating explosives that react to heating, or, for example, a mercury circuit breaker. A mechanical method of closing a circuit that reacts to any movement of the wheels, cardans, steering, control levers, pedals, headrests, seats and backrests, i.e. using the principles of physical action when closing a circuit — pressure, tension and reverse action. VU can be installed autonomously, completely independently of the car systems, with a time delay on a timer, can be radio-controlled by a command signal from the outside.

There have been cases where criminals, having deciphered the control radio signal code — disarming the alarm — using scanning devices, closed the receiving device of an explosive device in a car to a similar code. Accordingly, based on these design features of the car, it is necessary to inspect the places where explosive devices can be installed.

A car's gas tank easily detonates even from a small amount of explosive. The explosive can be placed inside through the filler neck (for example, chemical ingredients in a rubberized bag; when the casing is corroded by gasoline, a chemical reaction occurs with the release of heat, causing an explosion), a magnetic mine can be attached to the outside, from the bottom side to the body of the gas tank. Such an operation can be performed in 1.5-2 seconds even with the alarm on or with the driver sitting behind the wheel. A person can bend over for a completely natural reason (tying a shoelace or picking up a fallen book) and, at the same time, with a quick movement «stick» the explosive.

The next «convenient» places are under the client's seat, rug, headrest or behind the seat back on the trunk side, under the driver. The car control panel is also added here (on the inside — a convenient place for power supply and a «convenient» direction of the explosion). Eliminating the driver at high speed in a busy traffic flow or on a sharp turn will give a guaranteed effect. Such precision explosive devices are compact, unnoticeable, effective. One of the instructors told the following story. Competitors put a radio-controlled explosive device under the bottom of a drug dealer's car on the driver's side, since the «client» was driving the car himself. However, by this time, as if sensing something, he hired a driver and rode in the back seat. The reason was actually far from mysticism — By this time, the drug dealer had become addicted to the «product» himself and was afraid to drive a car in such a state. The plan was foiled because the driver had changed the location of the car's parking, which made it difficult to reinstall the VU. However, the criminal competitors continued to bide their time and waited for their moment. When approaching a gas station, the driver got out to pay the operator, and the «client» moved from the two girls with whom he was comfortably seated in the back seat to the driver's seat in order to drive the car to the gas station. The criminals took advantage of this moment to press the button. The VU was so precisely calibrated that only the one against whom the VU was intended died from serious injuries, while the girls escaped with practically no more than a slight concussion. This case also illustrates another situation — It is not known how long the car drove with the mine suspended, but it was obviously quite a long time, and during all this time no one bothered to look under the bottom of the car.

Let's dwell on some of the preparatory measures that preceded the inspection.

First of all, restricting access to the car while it is parked is already a good preventive measure in itself. Therefore, it is advisable to leave the car overnight in a secure garage or guarded parking lot. However, you should not completely trust the safety of your life only to the locks and guards of the parking areas (usually pensioners). Therefore, it is worth paying attention to several points.

First— Before parking your car, clear the parking area and its surroundings of any foreign objects and trash. This is done in order to identify any possible presence of someone while you were away by external signs upon arrival in the morning. A bodyguard should always not just look, but be able to see. Thus, a person's presence can be given away by footprints, a burnt match or cigarette butt, spit or a wad of chewing gum, etc. The person's direct actions can be given away by dirt that has fallen off the bottom of the car where the driver's license is attached, scratches in places of entry (locks, windows). It is possible to determine whether a person has entered the facility or not using signs that have been left on purpose. It is advisable to leave a car dirty in the parking lot (wash it in the morning after inspection). A person who was rummaging around the car at night could accidentally touch it with his hand or shoulder, leaving marks that will be visible in daylight. When talking about traces that a criminal can leave behind, it is necessary to remember the «human factor». A criminal, when penetrating an object, usually acts in cramped circumstances: he works in the dark, is limited in time, experiences a natural fear of being discovered, of not completing the task, of blowing himself up with his own explosive device. That is, working under stress, a criminal, as a rule, makes mistakes that a bodyguard conducting a careful inspection is able to notice. Very often, it is precisely because of such mistakes by demolition experts that unmasking signs remain. There is a known case when a criminal, installing a grenade under the bottom of a car, dropped a textolite plug, which is used to close the ignition hole. In the darkness, it rolled behind the wheel, and the criminal did not notice it. When the owner looked under the car in the morning, the first thing he saw was the grenade plug. And this, I repeat, is not an exceptional case. Very often fragments of explosive packaging materials used as sealants (sand, soil, wooden blocks, etc.), rubber stoppers, safety pins from the detonator, scraps of tape, electrical tape, wire, tripwire elements, etc. are left at the crime scene (depending on the type of explosive device and the method of detonation). Sometimes a criminal, scared by something, forgets tools (crimping tool, screwdriver, gloves) at the crime scene.

Next, which is recommended to do when parking the car (this condition is usually met if the car is in a garage). Everything that can be removed from the inside and outside of the car is removed. Wheel caps, mats, headrests, covers, everything is taken out of the trunk and interior: radio, first aid kit, fire extinguishers, tools, spare tire, etc. Everything that opens inside the interior (glove box, sun visors, ashtrays, etc.) is left open. Everything that is taken out is stored separately somewhere in a closed cabinet. This is done so that in the morning it would be possible to inspect the car as thoroughly as possible without touching the places where explosive devices could be hidden, firstly, and secondly, because such similar items as fire extinguishers, a first aid kit, a seat headrest, an audio speaker, cassettes, etc. can be purchased at any store, «equipped» with a shell in advance and replaced in a matter of minutes if necessary. Therefore, it is necessary to create as many difficulties as possible for the criminal. By the way, it is recommended to mark such things to protect against substitution. A drop of paint or a scratch in a certain place will quickly tell you that the item is «original».

The method of inspecting a car is, in general, the same as for a room. Two people inspect it (the driver is a must), one clockwise, the other counterclockwise. Without getting too close to the car, as far as possible (in an open area, at least 15-20 meters away), walk around the perimeter, carefully inspect the approaches to the car, the body, and look under the car. From there (as far as the distance allows), remove the alarm. Such an inspection can reveal traces of strangers, suspicious objects under the car, stretch marks from the car to the ground, curb, fence, damage to the soil in front of the wheel, etc. Sometimes you come across surprises such as a crumpled «Cola» can or a milk carton on the hood or roof of the car. Do not rush to brush them off, scolding annoying teenagers, you can end up without an arm. The distance to the car is reduced gradually, allowing you to see smaller details.

External inspection starts from the rear (from the muffler). It is necessary to check the muffler visually, with a feeler gauge (it is recommended to weld a grille to the exhaust). The muffler is a place where it is very easy to place a tubular bomb of the required diameter. And very quickly and secretly (unlike a mine-magnet on the bottom). Usually the muffler pipe runs next to the gas tank, and the explosion will cause an instant detonation. Walking around the car, carefully inspect the entire body (dirty greased stripes), vents, locks (scratches, squeezing). It is necessary to very carefully inspect the filler neck of the gas tank. It is desirable to have a lock, a fixed mesh filter that prevents mechanical penetration through the neck. When inspecting the neck, you can use a flashlight. For these purposes, there are special ones with a flexible light guide, it is good if there is an endoscope. You should carefully inspect the edges of the neck, the filter mesh, perhaps there will be stuck particles of the substance poured into the gas tank.

When inspecting the body, a preliminary inspection of the interior is carried out simultaneously through the glass (stretch marks to the doors, packages, bundles, objects moved from their place, etc.). If the glass is tinted, it is better to use a powerful flashlight or look through the windshield. You need to carefully inspect the sinuses on the inside of the bumpers, the radiator grille, look under the license plates. It is necessary to inspect all lighting devices (headlights, sidelights, etc.) from the outside with a powerful flashlight. Usually they are attached to the body from the inside (from the engine or luggage compartment), but some lighting devices (headlight bulb, halogen «fog lights», etc.) are usually attached from the outside. The criminal can connect to them as a power source when installing the VU. Then comes the inspection of the bottom. It is good to have inspection mirrors here, setting them at different angles and different lengths, gradually inspecting all areas of the bottom (gas tank, places under the «client» and driver), all moving areas (inner sides of wheel disks, cardan shafts, cables, etc.). Together with the bottom, using a mirror, the mudguards are inspected.

After the external inspection, we proceed to the internal inspection of the cabin. Having looked through the glass beforehand, the front door on the passenger side is opened. Opening all doors (hood, trunk, fuel tank hatches) is carried out according to the same rules as the already described opening of doors to the room. The door on the passenger side is opened because this place is more open for visual inspection than the driver's seat, i.e. we can create a preliminary «springboard» for further inspection. Having opened the door, before leaning on anything, you need to carefully use all your senses: look, listen, smell, analyze. It is not recommended to use air fresheners inside the cabin, they will completely interrupt the smell of a toxic substance or explosive.After the external inspection has not revealed anything suspicious, lightly feel the surfaces of the seat from the outside and inside, the floor. It is necessary to pay special attention to torn places, damage to the integrity of the interior trim and seats, look under the feet, under the panel, and only after this can you sit in the passenger seat to inspect the rest of the interior.

After inspecting the interior, we proceed to inspect the engine compartment. The area of ​​the engine compartment is inspected from top to bottom (towards yourself). When inspecting the engine, you need to pay attention to the air filter, the interior ventilation system, the carburetor, places where the temperature rises (engine block, radiator), fluid tanks (can be replaced with aggressive components filled in) and everything related to the engine electrical equipment, control panel, lighting devices, etc., as well as movement (fan belts, steering cardan shaft, etc.). It is better for the driver to start the inspection here. He knows better the wires that were changed in the ZLO system or the «greased» places from dirt on the engine.

After the engine inspection, the trunk is inspected. Once the inspection is complete, the car is started. It is advisable to have a remote engine starter (doing this from as far away as possible), and then turn on all power sources (windshield wipers, radio, etc.). Leaving the car within sight, let it run for the time required to warm up the engine. Only then can the inspection be considered complete.

Such an inspection, if you have the necessary skills, takes no more than 20-25 minutes. Remember that your actions may be observed from the sidelines and they are deciding whether you should install a «surprise» in the car or not.

During the day, the driver is responsible for the car. If he goes away somewhere, it is advisable to ask the guard to watch the car during this time. During the day, even if the car equipped with an alarm is left unattended for only a few minutes, the bodyguard and the driver should inspect it from the outside.

Even when purchasing an armored vehicle, it is important to remember that its main protection is not in its armor, but in its mobility. No car armor will protect against a shot from a cumulative grenade. Only speed and maneuver allow you not to be taken by surprise. It has already been mentioned that it is necessary to constantly change routes, to minimize the time for maneuvering when approaching and leaving. On the route, be careful when driving under bridges, in places where there are abandoned cars, packages, and all sorts of foreign objects on the side of the road. If possible, go around drain grates, manholes. Very often, criminals install car bombs or other caches on the routes of movement. (In particular, the assassination attempts in Sicily on Judge D. Falcone and on the leader of Georgia E. Shevardnadze were organized in a similar way).

In addition to the preventive constant change of route, it is possible to recommend the fastest possible passage along the «outer» side of the road from a single standing car. In order to timely remotely activate the circuit, the criminal must be almost exactly on the line of sight of the target in relation to the bookmark car, so that the main damaging factors fall on the passing car. Therefore, the faster you move, the greater the guarantee of safety. The cover car at the time of passage must block (drive parallel) from the side of the dangerous section. If at this time other cars are driving along the road, move as far as possible to the opposite edge, fence yourself off with the flow of cars.

On a country road (without a hard surface), it is better to drive in the tracks of the car in front. If for some reason the road ahead is blocked (this will be typical for light traffic), be careful when driving along the side of the road — you may be in for a surprise. It is better to keep the windows on your car closed to avoid being thrown a grenade or a Molotov cocktail. If you see an object flying into the window, it is better to hold the glass as tightly as possible with both hands. As experiments have shown, a bottle of fuel often bounces off without causing harm.

It is recommended to equip the car with additional elements that increase its safety, including against the use of explosives. In addition to the anti-theft alarm, the following are recommended:

An anti-fragmentation floor covering made of Kevlar mat, reinforced along the perimeter, with T-beams that keep the mat from flying into the passenger compartment during an explosion. It is important to remember that Kevlar and similar materials are afraid of moisture, so protection from its effects must be thought out;
•explosion-proof gas tank;
•sealing the muffler exhaust;
•installation of a remote engine start device;
•shockproof films on glass and protection of tires from being shot through.