Context

The fight against terrorism

IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) are the greatest cause of death in current operations, as the most commonly used weapon by insurgents in asymmetrical confrontations. Preventing attacks with IED is the main priority for troops and security forces. Furthermore, it is essential to protect both the population and the intervening forces against attacks using IED.

One of the key elements for defeating the IED system (IED supply chain) is having intelligence information extracted from a terrorist attack.

The C-IED portable forensics laboratories intend to offer a solution to this need by acting as an infrastructure for forensic analysis by NATO.

The purpose of these laboratories is to provide military forces with intelligence that allows them to neutralize terrorist attacks against the population and the allied forces.

NATO had an immediate need for forensic capacity in Afghanistan to combat terrorism.

Solution

Portable forensics analysis laboratory for the operations area

Saving lives in Afghanistan

Forensic analysis of IED consists of investigating IED incidents to define the techniques, tactics and procedures (TTPs) of an attack and identify the corresponding supply chain.

All activities associated with analysis of IEDs are focused on providing security forces with support for predicting activities of the terrorist network, prevent future incidents, detect IEDs and efficiently and safely neutralize the effects of IED attacks.

The laboratory permits the allied forces deployed in Kabul to gather data from the evidence collected after terrorist attacks that may occur in the area.

This evidence is analyzed by a group of forensic experts of the European forces to obtain results.

These solutions have been designed for operation in military and civil environments. Some of the usual users of these solutions are:

Special military units against terrorism Security forces

Benefits

Forensic analysis as support for anti-terrorist operations

Intelligence information that allows for counteracting terrorist attacks. This information will allow security forces to act on the elements of the terrorist network that collaborates in the attack, neutralizing critical persons and, therefore, making it more difficult for these incidents to be repeated.

The project permitted NATO to have the capacity that decisively contributed toward the fight against terrorism by the Talibans.

The references that follow list articles in specialized magazines that describe these results.

Indra contributed toward this goal by creating an innovative, quality solution within a very short time period. The work carried out by European forensics experts in the Indra laboratory allowed for security forces to be more efficient in their fight against terrorism.