DHS: Bombers may use 'pregnancy prosthetics'

Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 4:17 PM ET
Filed Under:

By James Popkin, NBC News Senior Investigative Correspondent

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reminding law-enforcement officials of the increased use of female suicide bombers worldwide, and warning that women terrorists might hide explosives in devices “that mimic the look of a pregnant woman.”

The unclassified DHS threat assessment, released Monday and obtained by NBC News, shows photographs of “pregnancy prosthetics,” hollowed-out devices that could hold explosive devices. The report says “female suicide bombers have used devices that make them appear pregnant to hide explosive devices.”

The DHS report states that terrorists are using female bombers more frequently, in part because these attacks generate “more widespread media exposure.” It adds: “Continued use of female suicide bombers-the most recent example being a 3 February 2008 attack at the main railway station in Colombo, Sri Lanka-indicates that terrorists judge this tactic as effective in increasing defenses and thwarting security measures.”

The report, marked “For Official Use Only,” is one of dozens of threat assessments issued jointly throughout the year by DHS and the FBI. The authors are quick to mention that there’s no immediate threat to the U.S.

“DHS and the FBI have no specific, credible intelligence indicating that terrorist organizations intend to utilize female suicide bombers against targets in the Homeland,” they write.

The report ticks off several recent attacks by women bombers in Iraq and Sri Lanka, and the recruitment of female suicide bombers in Chechnya, India, Pakistan, the Palestinian territories and Turkey.

Why the increase in women bombers? “DHS and the FBI assess that female suicide bombers may have an advantage over their male counterparts in accessing targets. The means to conduct a suicide attack vary widely, but a key element in maximizing the lethality of a suicide bombing is the bomber’s ability to get close to the target,” the report states. “Female suicide bombers may carry explosives devices in a backpack, briefcase, or purse, or hidden in an article of clothing worn close to the body, such as a vest, belt, long socks, or jacket.”

Comments

OBGYN exams will now be required for all boarding passengers.  In addition to removing shoes the curtained room on the side with exam table will be standard with all TSA checkpoints.
Reason has fled, let fear reign.

Mortissanguine (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:21 PM)

Hmmm are the odds of dying from a suicide bomber higher than a lighting strike in the US... Give us a break.

Frank Wagner, Phoenix AZ. (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:29 PM)

I think this is am important issue and America should be ready for this, if this method spreads to the U.S.A. I think it's highly unlikely, but anything can happen...

Cameron Johnson (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:36 PM)

Good grief! I can't think of anything TSA can do about this that isn't either a hazard to a pregnant women's health or an invasion of privacy. Besides, do you know how many pregnant women fly in this country...and add to that obese women who look like they are pregnant? (It's embarrassing enough if someone asks you if you are pregnant when you are not!)

Lorraine Levine, Arlington, TX (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:44 PM)

Homeland security is this the same Homeland security responsible for helping the Katrina victims? It took 3 days to get water to them.


Jimmy Bonds Saint Louis Mo. (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:45 PM)

Keep giving them new ideas, I liked the story on how easy it is to poison the food supply that ran a couple weeks back, radical terrorists don't monitor the internet at all

David M Ryder Las Vegas (a major target) NV

davesgood@msn.com (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:48 PM)

thank you for continuing the scare tactics DHS! WE don't need to live our lives without fear every day.

We appreciate your daily services!

</endsarcasm>

Brandon, Charleston, SC (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:50 PM)

what a bunch of baloney. this is all designed to scare us into giving up the rest of our civil liberties. go ron paul!

john doe, seatle wash. (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:54 PM)

So as a security measure at airports will us pregnant women be required to show our bellies?

Aline Viss, Plover WI (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:56 PM)

This is nothing new. Ask the Israelis on how the women are used as suicide bombers. They will tell you numerous accounts of attacks and victims going back at least 7 years ago! Suicide bombers are out to get the most murdered with the least effort. Culturally, women are not as suspect as men, especially if they "are pregnant".

Sarah from Brooklyn, NY (Monday, February 11, 2008 10:57 PM)

Mr. Popkin, what is the purpose of you reporting this? So we start detaining pregnant women?  It is getting so we have to be afraid of everyone, and there is only one way to defend against that.
Sad.

Jon P. Galloway, NJ (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:00 PM)

I am really surprised at the number of comments that appear on other articles, about much more unimportant topics. It's amazing that we can have so much to say about nothing, and so little to say about things of this nature.

I think the most important thing to point out is that Where there is a will there is a way. While I feel (and I stress "I FEEL", this is my opinion) that there is no way to stop the people who wish to cause harm to others..It is good to know that the people tasked with protecting us, are noticing trends and possiblities. However slowly....

KAOS (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:00 PM)

"...female suicide bombers may have an advantage over their male counterparts in accessing targets."

The males, in fact, seem quite willing to relieve themselves of the duty of exploding.

Will, Raleigh, NC (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:01 PM)

oh lord now another reason to harass women and even pregnant ones Will they have to wear some tasteless Britney Spears fashion that bares their pregnancy now to the public?
And of course men wont try to hide something in their "backpack,briefcase....,vest, belt,long socks or jacket"? Yet over and over again its proven someone intentionally gets through with a weapon or knife as an experiment to expose the TSA's ineptness
Oh Please-just do the routine screenings like usual,try not to hire ex cons to be screeners and stop coming up with these stupid reports.The fear level is already at the highest and cannot be maxed out anymore.

no SeatteWA (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:01 PM)

re: DHS: Bombers may use 'pregnancy prosthetics'
Gee, I am not surprised that DHS is finally figuring this out.......After all the restrictions placed on flying, what you can and can not carry, it took them long enought to figure this out.....Our govt at work......Slow as usual.

richard milakovic, harrisburg, pa (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:07 PM)

Couldn't they use something like infrared imaging to determine from a distance whether a woman's stomach was real or artificial?  Just curious as to whether some screening method like that might work.

Peggy Uppiano (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:10 PM)

Spare me.  I'm sick of living in fear.  If it happens it happens so get over it and live life.

Bryan (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:17 PM)

This is truly terrifying.  To abuse the beauty of the woman's body to carry out evil acts of death is horrific.  What's sad is that womens rights in these areas of the world are so minimal.  Giving their lives to "fight" for their ideals is the only empowerment bestowed on them.  I wonder if these women will be granted their 'promised virgins' in heaven as is the popular belief of the men who carry out these crimes. This is so sad. Their only chance to be equals is in their deaths dictated to them by men in the shape of the life that they could be carrying...

heartbroken, Ithaca, NY (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:17 PM)

So, let me guess. This is going to be used as another impetus to further infringe upon citizens' rights, in both America and Empire wide.

FAD in North Dakota (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:22 PM)

DHS and the FBI regularly oppose media reports of situations that expose security vulnerabilities in the systems that they are charged to operate to secure America.  Immediate considerations just to mention a few, are the holes in airport security, the lack of regulation of chemical plants and the continued absence of adequate communication systems among first responders throughout the U.S. all still not corrected although promised by the Bush administration since 911 2001.  

The excuse given by the DHS and the FBI continues to be, exposure of these facts to the American public tells the terrorists about these security holes.  However, the DHS and the FBI have no problem spreading such information when they want to scare Americans and push Congress to pass very bad "Domestic Spying Laws" through efforts of fear-mongering.  By the way, terrorists already know about women suicide bombers,  Maybe by the DHS and the FBI spreading the word about mimicing pregnancy or even explosives in false breasts DHS and the FBI are teaching the terrorists how to better attack us in Iraq, Afghanistan and at home.  

The DHS and the FBI are the culprits aiding the terrorists in spreading these ideas and using the media as a fear-mongering tool.  But, the real problem is evident in the fine print of the new 2009 Bush budget, which cuts the DHS funding for first responders in the United States by 50%.  Obviously its the Bush White House, the Bush administration and Bush himself that DO NOT SUPPORT THE SECURITY of AMERICA AGAIST TERRORISM.  

Saul B. Wilen, Texas (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:25 PM)

this report brings it right to our doorstep  Pregnant women are allowed a grace of space here in the states.  How inhuman can these people get, children and women, this is against all we here in the US deplore. I am totally in favor of profiling, would airport security x-rays pick up these false "pregnacys"?  

Marty CR Iowa (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:27 PM)

What is the bottom level of depravity for these people? They could be using pregnant women as suicide bombers. What is next, babies with bombs in their diapers?

terrywhitecpa@charter.net (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:33 PM)

The world is one tough place, one needs to be thankful of all the men and women who make this a safe place. People hate the American people. If we let our guard down then we will have many more attacks just like the September 11, 2001 attacks

Ben Stiner LA. California (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:34 PM)

what a load of bs.  "terrorists are using female bombers more frequently, in part because these attacks generate “more widespread media exposure”"
that's the sorriest crap i have heard from that idiot agency yet.  ...media exposure... they obviously assume everyone in america is very, very stupid.  they do it because they feel they have nothing else to lose, and women because they think the trick will work. it's a war you jack@(#$^, not a PR campaign!

Tarl B. Richlands nc (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:48 PM)

Why are you releasing law enforcement sensitive information to the masses?  What ever happened to media responsibility?  The information that you disclosed is not for public dissemination.

Concerned citizen, Denver Colorado (Monday, February 11, 2008 11:52 PM)

Nice how FOUO information is delivered to the press, and how NBC happily prints it.  So much for national security.

Kenneth Dawson, Niceville, FL (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:03 AM)

yes, we should be afraid of pregnant women. And everything and everybody in the whole world. Be afraid. Be very afraid. That way your government can protect you. At a nice profit.

rob d. Wauna WA (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:12 AM)

I don't understand why the media has to release articles like this. The article does not mention that this has actually happened before (female suicide bombers using pregnant prosthetics), so I'm going to assume that it's never happened, so why tell the mass population? Researchers or the media should just tell law enforcement and security officials because everytime the media publishes major findings like this, they are only giving terrorists more ideas and ways to harm us.

Perplexed, Philadelphia, PA (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:26 AM)

Isn't it amazing that these things always tend to surface during election seasons.  This is typical Bush administration fearmongering and I for one have had enough.  Sorry George, we're not going to be scared anymore.

Marcus, Twin Cities, MN (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:46 AM)

men dressed as pregnant women wearing head scarf to hide identity! anything said about that, or is it that the men would never think of wearing womens clothing to do be a suicide bomber??

AMNESTY is TREASON (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:03 AM)

If a person was covered head-to-toe in a chador and niqab, how do you even know that they are a woman?  Many men in the Middle East are of small stature and could easily be mistaken for a woman if no obvious male features are visible.  I am quite sure that a man who is willing to blow himself to smithereens would have no problem donning women's attire to do so.

Mustaffah Abdelkadir (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:12 AM)

"The DHS report states that terrorists are using female bombers more frequently, in part because these attacks generate 'more widespread media exposure.' - Yup, and this article is clearly giving it to em. Nothing credible on the homeland, but let's keep the fear level up there.

Ethyn, MI (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:45 AM)

This kind of reminder is helpful in reminding us to be observant of suspicious activity, whether is be suspected terrorist, criminal or neighborhood hoodlums. Call the cops!

JLP LA CA (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:51 AM)

I think that women are more easily persauded to become suicide bombers because their families could become victims to the terrorist, and because their more likely to want to save their lives instead of their own.

Debra Shoosmith, Bradenton, Florida (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:52 AM)

Most Americans are unaware of just how far the
suicide bombers will go to spread their mayhem.
The politics of disillusionment, anger and revenge
just beg for attackers to begin new campaigns
which in some cases will be both effective and
spectacular.

I suspect we will soon see not just "fake" pregnant women carrying explosives but also
devices such as "Body Bombs" where high explosives
are surgically implanted into body cavities
and detonated near high profile targets.

We North Americans need to take a far more
proactive approach to Homeland Security and
start using the tools already available to us
(i.e. X-Ray scanners) in a more effective and targeted manner along with a more intense and visionary approach to training of security
personnel.

The old adage "An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure" definitely applies here.

Henry A. Eckstein, Vancouver, Canada (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:03 AM)

THAT'S JUST CRAZY, CLOSE THE BORDERS!!!! WE ARE FIGHTING A LOSING WAR AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO DESTROY THE FABRIC OF AMERICA. I AM SHOCK TO BE READING THIS STORY, NOW THE NEXT TIME I SEE A PREGNANT WOMAN ITS GOING TO FEEL AWKWARD...

E FROM BOSTON (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 6:30 AM)

So how did NBC get a copy of the report?  If you read the handling instructions of "For Official Use Only," you'll see it states: <B> No portion of this report should be furnished to the media, either in written or verbal form. </B>

Washington, DC (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 8:04 AM)

What has the world come to when the human race needs to be fearful of maniacs who want to kill just to reduce the population of freedom loving people? Can they possibly be reoriented somehow to see the error in this? I hope the worlds religeons can come together somehow and WORK to stop this insanity. Heres your call to arms religeons.

Ron Ackman Bicknell IN (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 9:10 AM)

Oh Great!!! Sonograms at the airport?????

Robert Lewis, Independence, MO (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:48 AM)

I for one cannot tell why the media feels it is necessary to print something like this. If there was not threat to the Homeland thank you for now making it possible for the suicide bombers here to know that this is an option. I know that the public has a need to know but we dont have to know everything. I am just sick with the decision to print this article.

Sonia Singh, Plainfield, NJ (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:50 AM)

The use of 'pregnant' women as carriers of suicide bombs was pioneered by the Tamil Tigers in their separatist war against the democratically elected government in Sri Lanka. Other techniques of mayhem and killing --- including the techniques used in the USS Cole attack were pioneered by the Tigers. Yet, all you hear about suicide bombers is when they target places and persons in the Middle East or the West; in other words 'Islamic terrorists'. It is about time the West started cracking down on groups such as the Tamil Tigers and their support networks in countries such as Canada, the US, Norway, Great Britain, South Africa, etc. Such international terrorists destabilize all societies while causing cruel and costly mahem in their own lands.

ACY1, Toronto, Ont. (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:55 AM)

I really don't see what the big deal is seriously. I have six kids; I have been pregnant six times (none are adopted). I am a very modest person by nature and never wear anything even slightly revealing. I am also Native American which means white Americans think I am Mexican, Samoan, Tongan or fill-in-the-blank. Whites usually cannot tell the races apart.

I would have no problem with going behind a screen and lifting my shirt over my stomach to allow a screener to be sure I am really pregnant. I get the third degree at the airport because of my dark appearance, but unless I miss my flight I honestly don't care.

I don't live in fear, ever. But I also am not going to get my panties in a wad over something stupid. I am not going to get upset that stupid people cannot tell that I am not a terrorist. I am going to take the two seconds to help someone to do their job and maybe make that nervous white person I travel with feel a little better knowing I went through that screening.

Most of you will never even have to deal with this "problem" and yet are here whining and griping about it as usual.

Seriously people, get a grip.

Emily, SLC, UT (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:10 AM)

Good Grief-now i feel like everytime that i travel I will be exposed on a GYN table as well as in the x-ray machines.
If the DHS/TSA/FBI were really serious about stopping all of these fanatics, wouldn't they begin the profiling that they say that they cannot do becuase of political correctness? PLEASE! Last time that I checked we were at WAR with these people (and apparently, they got THAT memo)

LRS, Murfreesboro TN (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:33 AM)

Well, I am from Sri Lanka studying here in the US and terrorists were using "pregnant" women as suicide bombers for quite a while now. If you've been following the international news, of late, other terrorist groups around the world have been using this technique too. I guess the DHS came out with this story to remind people of the general threats that exist to the US. Since there is no specific threat, I don't think the average person should worry too much about this but just be vigilant in general.

NW, Houston TX (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:54 AM)

Well intelligence warned Bush about upcoming Bin Laden attacks and Bush and his inept National Security advisor Rice did almost nothing to put us into a higher state of readyness. They dropped the ball on the attacks then and they have been terribly inept as an administration ever since. Why should we believe anything they say? They lie all of the time about everything. Even if we were attacked by a fake baby bomb woman - would that somehow justify all of the disasterous policies of the worst presidency in American history?

Let us be vigilant - with SOMEONE ELSE IN CHARGE.

MIIK, Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:35 PM)

9/11 - a day to remember... as the day we sacrificed liberty for security and received neither.

Darren Pope, Little Rock, AR (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:24 PM)

it's better to be cautious than to be sorry later. bombs and terrorism and anywhere any time. we americans never thought it will happen here until 911. we should take care but not blame people who report these facts.

suicide bombers are every where and i found this video of sri lanka LTTE woman suicide bombers.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u9dA5Ksw7d8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OS_u9OMLj1U

Mr. Popkins, thank you for opening our eyes. We should stand against terrorism and protect our nation.

Mary Payton, Los Angeles, CA (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:52 PM)

As long as the US pursues foreign policies that cause people to hate us, we will be targets for terrorism.  It's that simple.  There is no way to be 100% safe from terrorists without a complete societal lockdown.  What we need to do to protect ourselves is lower the level of hate against the US.  If people don't hate us, they won't be so inclined to blow themselves up in an attempt to take us with them.  How do we lower the hate?  Simple--be fair and honest in our dealings with other countries.  Support fair, equitable solutions to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Stop invading Muslim countries that have no links to 9/11.  Get out of Iraq so that our presence does not continue to drive an insurgency (despite reports to the contrary, the "surge" is not working--the only reason violence is down is that we are now paying huge sums of money to Sunni chieftains to get them to cooperate with us.  No political solution is being developed, so as soon as the payments stop, the civil war will restart.)  Stop supporting corrupt, despotic governments (eg. Saudi Arabia, Egypt) and overlooking their human rights abuses just to get and keep access to their oil.  Measures like these could start to show Muslim people that we don't hate them or intend to persecute them, that we're not their enemies.  This would lessen the impact of the hate-filled teachings of the jihadists, so that fewer people would buy into the terrorists' message and thus fewer people would be willing to become terrorists themselves.  As Abraham Lincoln said, the best way to defeat an enemy is to turn them into a friend.

LB, Akron, OH (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:57 PM)

It may have appeared here first on MSNBC

anthony (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:41 PM)

Comment was made that we do not need to give "them" any more ideas. Please these terrosists have been dreaming new ways to hurt innocent people since they started walking.
We are so far behind compared to the tactics that bombers are will to make because we let moral beliefs guild our actions, otherwise the bombing that the US could have done would have stopped all actions in the Middle East. We have to stay behind the belief that we are more evolved and will not bend down to their level.

Concerned mom, Oregon (Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:42 PM)

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Deep Background is NBC News’ investigative blog. It covers national security, terrorism, spies, Iraq, and politics, as well as government waste, fraud and abuse. It is edited by NBC News Senior Investigative Producer Jim Popkin.

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