Criminals use explosives to kill, maim, and intimidate, and as a tool for robbing banks, safes, homes, and other targets. Terrorists first utilized explosives in the 17th century in a failed plot to assassinate England’s King James I. Since then, militant groups such as the Irish Republican Army, the Ku Klux Klan, and al Qaeda have used bombings to kill, injure, and terrify their victims. Law enforcement officials have a special response for this unique form of violence. Bomb Squad details the history and evolution of that response, the techniques used to locate and disarm explosives, and the risks involved for officers who face death every time they respond to a bomb threat.

Key topics covered include:

-Types of explosives

-Evolution of bomb squad units

-Serial bombers

-Political bombings

-Use of explosives by organized crime

-Protective gear used by bomb squad officers

-Bomb detection tools and techniques

-Methods used to trace and identify bombers.