![]() ![]() When the target is over the small bomb it is detonated. A new ruse is to drop the sticky bomb from inside a hole cut near the gearshift of the attacker’s vehicle as the target vehicle approaches from behind. ![]() Occasionally, a small child begging for money will be used to distract the driver, while the bomber sticks the small box under the wheel well. The bomb-maker programs a number into the phone and dials it, with the last digit setting off the blast once he is clear of the targeted car. Typically, sticky bombs consist of explosives packed in a small box, a magnet attached to the box, and a mobile phone. The campaign has had an impact, leaving motorists navigating Kabul’s chaotic traffic wondering if the nearby car might explode, or whether a beggar weaving through the traffic might be carrying a sticky bomb. #NEW STICKY BOMB FULL#One motive appears to be to undermine faith in peace efforts among ordinary Afghans, with the Taliban and the government blaming each other for the chaos.Įnjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Some victims are targeted, while others appear to have been chosen at random, with the aim of terrorizing an entire population, Andarabi said. Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific. “What is new is that they (attackers) have created a simple model,” he said, noting that sticky bombs are easy to make for about $25 and easy to carry. But the heavy use of sticky bombs is relatively new, said former interior minister Masoud Andarabi. Kabul, a city traumatized by war, has been the scene of many suicide bombings and shooting attacks. But in the meantime violence is escalating and taking the occasional new twist, such as the sticky bombs. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said America wanted a “responsible end” to Afghanistan’s relentless war. The administration of President Joe Biden has alternated between coaxing and sharp words - even offering a ready-made peace proposal - to hurry the Taliban and the Afghan government toward an end to the conflict. Over the past year, one or more cars have been exploding in Kabul almost every day and residents are terrified. The primitive devices, sometimes made in mechanics’ workshops for little money, are used by militants, criminals or those trying to settle personal scores. Sticky bombs slapped onto cars trapped in Kabul’s chaotic traffic are the newest weapons terrorizing Afghans in the increasingly lawless nation, as Washington searches for a responsible exit after decades of war. ![]()
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