This week Greek police defused a car bomb that was left outside the offices of a leading US-based international bank, in a suburb of the capital, Athens.
Police described the device as "powerful", adding that it consisted of explosives packed into gas cylinders and linked to a timer. A security guard at the bank apparently alerted the police after seeing three people park the car next to the building and then make off. No warning was given. A new and possibly more dangerous generation of Greek extremists is escalating attacks against police and symbols of capitalism.
Gas-bottle bombs have long been a favourite of domestic terrorists in Greece, and were also used by Islamist extremists in 2007 in the UK in their foiled attacks in London and Glasgow Airport. Recently, according to CBS News, a member of a militant Islamist Internet forum who uses the name Abul Baraa al Masri, posted information about an easy and cheap alternative to the usual car bomb commonly used by militants in Afghanistan and other places. Al Masri, who is very active in the military sections of the Internet forum, explained that the bomb consists of a well-sealed tanker to be filled with a mix of 25% Gas and 75% Oxygen and a detonator.
The Protection against Explosive Devices is a full-day subject on the forthcoming Security Management Stage 1 Course. Forthcoming courses are:
South Africa: 9-20 March 2009. Click here for details.
UK: 23 March - 3 April 2009. Click here for details.
