Suicide bombings can occur anywhere. When we hear about them, they typically occur in North African countries or the Middle East region. One of the latest attacks occurred in Kabul, Afghanistan on the morning of May 31 in the city’s diplomatic quarters, killing at least 90 people and injuring more than 400.
At times, they occur in Asian or Western regions such as the attack in Manchester, UK which occurred shortly after a concert concluded on May 22, killing 22 and injuring dozens. In another incident just two days later, a pair of suicide bombers killed three police officers outside a bus terminal in Jakarta, Indonesia.
No one can tell where and when a suicide bomber will strike. That’s why incidents like these are such a shock and difficult to cope with. It does not matter where in the world you are, it’s clear that the threat of the suicide bomber has grown greater and become more widespread.
The Rise of Suicide Bombings
One of the earliest records of a suicide bomber was in 1881 in St. Petersburg. An accomplice to the impending suicide bomber threw a small bomb at a convoy of carriages. When Tsar Alexander II emerged from his carriage, the suicide bomber - a member of a terrorist group, rushed forward and set off a second bomb to kill the Tsar and himself.
Since then, suicide bombing attacks were used sporadically. In these past three decades though, we’ve witnessed an increase in suicide bombing activities and a vast amount of lives lost due to this terror tactic. A concentrated number of incidents started to occur in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. Eventually it spread from there with suicide bombings being used all around the world by various terror organizations and lone wolf individuals.
Why Is It Done?
Suicide bombings accomplish a few things. For one, it causes loss of innocent civilian lives. This in itself is most devastating. In addition, damage and destruction to surrounding areas greatly debilitates the normal operations of businesses, transportation systems, government, etc. At the same time, it brings national and worldwide attention to the bomber’s own cause. The shocking nature of suicide bombings is meant to intimidate and cause fear among the public, especially over future attacks.
Conclusion
Suicide bombings are a barbaric act. Its unpredictability puts people on edge. The public must always be cognizant of their surroundings. Governments must also be willing to share information with others to prevent future attacks. It’s difficult to curtail a suicide bomber, but cohesive cooperation among all parties may result in more thwarted attacks.
What’s your take on the rise of suicide bombings? Do you feel less safe when attending large, busy public events? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Source:
https://aoav.org.uk/2013/a-short-history-of-suicide-bombings/
