Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have become the signature weapon of international terrorism. They are simple, cheap and deliver a disproportional effect and high collateral damage. For this reason IEDs are a major threat to political stability worldwide. This destabilizing tactic has been used by the Irish Republican Army in Britain, insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Medellin cartel in Colombia, Muslim extremists in Europe and numerous other terrorist and criminal organizations. 

Terrorist will continue to use IEDs to achieve their objectives. Various terrorist training manuals that are available in the internet show in great detail how to convert common chemicals into explosives and how to employ radio controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs). At the extreme, an IED can be enhanced into a “dirty bomb,” rigged to scatter radioactive material.

This IED threat createses big challenges for protecting economic stability especially in times of highly tense global markets. This challenge has become a global priority not only for high-risk areas but also for Asian, the American- and European markets alike. The integration of multi-level-security technologies is a necessity in order to provide a resilient security concept that withstands common threats.