NCJ Number
174937
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 42 Issue: 6 Dated: November 1997 Pages: 981-985
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article analyzes 10 letter bombs sent to prominent persons in Austria in late 1993, with emphasis on the construction of the bombs and the injuries experienced by the 4 victims of the 4 bombs that detonated.
Abstract
The bombs were sent to persons who had been involved in the care of foreigners. Four bombs detonated when the addressee opened them. The other six bombs were discovered in time and were deactivated by specialists. The bombs consisted of detonating fuses, explosives, electronics for initiation, and energy sources. The bombs' unique feature was the use of both a warning fuse and a detonation fuse in each bomb. The explosive was nitroglycerine. Injuries were mainly to the left hand, which was the hand used by right-handed persons to hold a letter when opening it. The way of holding the letter had a crucial influence on the degree of injury from the same explosive charge, which was deduced from the analysis of the deactivated bombs. Injuries ranged from minor tissue lesions to mutilated fingers and the risk of excessive blood loss. The cases demonstrated that cooperation of forensic pathologists and technical experts was necessary for thorough analysis of such case studies. Finally, the task of the forensic experts is to provide a basis of objective facts to catch the perpetrators and a tool to assess the cases in court. Figure, table, photographs, and 12 references (Author abstract modified)