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Terrorist Modus Operandi
IRAQ
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Key
T
T
Neutral vehicle
Neutral person
Terrorist vehicle
Terrorist - Dicker
Terrorist - gunman
Hostile gunfire
Terrorist - explosion
Friendly vehicle
B Bandit
Victim vehicle (crime)
Victim (crime)
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T 1. Gun team initiateambush bringing
front vehicle to a halt
2. Multiple IEDs initiated
T3. Rear of convoy
attacked by RPG, from
opposite side of road
Convoy AmbushGun Fire Initiation
Recent multiple IED ambushes have exploited the
spacing disciplines of military convoys. The ambushis initiated by a gun team, bringing the convoy to a
halt. The terrorists draw the fire to their side of the
road, then a second team initiates the IED/IEDs.
There have also been cases where the tail vehicle
has been attacked by RPG.
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T
2. Gun team engage convoy, drawingattention to their side of the road.
1. IED initiates ambushhalting convoy
T3. Rear of convoy
attacked by RPG, from
opposite side of road
Convoy AmbushIED Initiation
This type of ambush has exploited the convoy security details tendency to fix their attention on
the direction of the shooting. On the opposite side of the road, an RPG team waits under cover
before firing a rocket-grenade at the rear vehicle and then escaping.
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2. Gunman fires at passingvehicle before escaping to
waiting car
1. Dicker gives warning
of approaching vehicles
to gunman
Alley Way Ambush
Shoot and Scoot style ambush. Dicker warns gun team of
approaching target. The gun team fire a burst at the target before
escaping to waiting get-away vehicle parked nearby. This tactic has
been used in both rural and urban areas.
T
T
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T
3. When ordered by the controller,
the crowd parts, allowing gunman to
fire, before escaping to waiting car..
Staged Accident Ambush
2. Crowd controlled by activist
1. Car accident is staged
and a crowd gathers.
The target vehicle is forced to stop by astaged accident. A crowd gathers, hemming
in the target vehicle - the crowd controlled
by an activist. On command, the crowd
parts, allowing a gunman to fire, before
escaping to a waiting vehicle. This tactic has
also been used against security forces
vehicles/ personnel responding to theaccident.
T
T
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IED
Roadside IED
Roadside IED is hidden at a choke point where targetvehicle is likely to be forced to stop. Dicker, or terrorist
who is to initiate the device placed in line of site of
ambush site. Initiation may be by command wire (more
suited to rural areas), or by remote (recent IEDs have
used mobile telephones).T
IEDs may be hidden by a variety of methods. Recent
examples have included boxes, bags, drink cans, deadanimals, MRE packs, hollowed out breeze blocks, and
broken down vehicles.
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Drive-by Shooting
The terrorist follow the target vehicle, then at an opportune moment overtake,
firing at the target vehicle as they pass.
A variation of this approach has been to attack the target vehicle as it passes
a slip road. This allows the terrorist to approach on the front passenger side,
timing the ambush to coincide with their (terrorist) entry onto the exit lane.
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T
As target vehicle enters underpass, terrorist waiting on theoverhead parapet drop an IED onto roof of vehicle.
Overhead IED
As an alternative, a dicker on the entry parapet signals that a target vehicle
is approaching to a terrorist waiting at the exit parapet.
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Rolling Ambush (choke point) - Assassination
T T
TT
T
12
3
4
1. Gunmen on overlooking vantagepoint initiate ambush.
2. Blocking vehicle moves behind
convoy
3. Roadside gunmen rake vehicles
as they pass.
4. Blocking vehicle moves in front
of convoy to prevent escape
from killing area.
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Linear Ambush - Assassination
T T T T 1
2
3
5 4
1. Dicking vehicle follows convoy in order to identify it and call forward to rest of
assassination team.
2. Blocking vehicle moves into inside lane and brakesslowing down traffic, allowing
convoy to overtake (3) move into clear space (4).
3. Convoy moves into clear space.
4. Convoy moves into killing area, gunmen on side of road rake convoyconcentrating
on principles in second vehicle.
5. Blocking vehicle moves into middle lane preventing escape.
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Place of ResidenceAssassination (Dr Akila Hashimi)
T T
T
T
1
2
3
4
1. Dickers posing as road
sweepers warn gun-group in
pick up truck that entourage is
leaving residence.
2. Ambush initiated by RPG(misses target)
3. Pick-up overtakes convoy,
rakes second vehicle with Dr
Hashimi, fatally wounding her.
4. Overtakes second vehicle andrakes with gunfire before
speeding away
T
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Highway RobberySingle Vehicle Victim
1a 2a
1a
2a
The target vehicle is forced to slow down by the vehicle in front (1a), usually a heavyvehicle. This allows the bandits in the vehicle behind (2a) to overtake, shooting out the
target vehicles tyres to force it to stop. The occupants of the target vehicle are then robbed
at gunpoint and abandoned.
The target vehicle is forced to stop by a large vehicle blocking the road (1b). The
bandits in the vehicle behind (2b) then block any escape, and then the occupants of the
target vehicle are robbed at gunpoint and abandoned. High possibility of kidnap.
B
B B
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Highway RobberyMulti Vehicle
1a 1b
1c
2b
Three or more bandit vehicles select convoy for attack. Lead vehicle (1a) overtakes convoy,
whilst second (1b) comes alongside signalling convoy to stop by brandishing weapons (firing at
wheels of any vehicle that fails to pull over, sometimes into cab). Third bandit vehicle (1c)
provides back-stop.
With convoy halted, the bandits from the middle vehicle (2b) conduct robbery, forcing
occupants to leave their vehicles at gunpoint. Valuables will be taken from victims. Bandits from
the second vehicle may also drive off with selected vehicles. The lead (2a) and rear (2c) bandit
vehicles provide stop-groups. Kidnap scenario as well.
B
B
B
B
BB
B B