FBI to train Indian police on handling suicide bombers

NEW DELHI: The United States of America is set to share with India its expertise in handling suicide bombers, agreeing to send a Federal Bureau of Investigation team in August to impart training to two dozen police officials. In a first-of-its-kind ‘Suicide Bomber Prevention Workshop’ to be held by the US Embassy, the FBI will train 24 officials from the state police, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Parliament Security.


The five-day workshop will be held as part of the ongoing Indo-US partnership in the field of homeland security. Drawing upon the US’ experience in handling suicide bombers in Afghanistan and Iraq, the FBI will give the Indian personnel a low-down on the characteristics of a suicide bomber and development of strategies to counter suicide bombers.

“The workshop will cover a variety of subjects — terrorist and suicide motivations, characteristics, terrorist planning cycles, target selection, weapon selection and post blast response responsibilities,” the Union home ministry said in a letter to all state DGPs and heads of CAPFs on June 21. The home ministry has asked for nominations for the course from police officers of the level of Superintendent of Police to Inspector General of Police engaged in the prevention and/or follow-up investigations involving a terrorist event.

However, the personnel assigned to an Indian intelligence agency or military unit are prohibited from attending the training, as per the United States policy. The Federal Bureau of Investigation officials will be imparting this training through lectures, case studies and practical discussions, the ministry said. The Federal Bureau o f Inve s t i gat ion last year arrested a Moroccan named Amine El Khali f i, who was wearing a vest filled with explosives and intending to attempt a suicide bombing at the US Capitol building in Washington.

In 2009, the Federal Bureau of Investigation had arrested a Nigerian man named Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, who, while onboard a plane in the United States airspace, tried to detonate a device attached to his body containing a high explosive. “The United States has compiled a complete database on profiling and characteristics of suicide bombers their forces have encountered in the US, Afghanistan and Iraq. The attributes include a suspect suicide bomber wearing abnormally loose clothes and appearing nervous and fidgety while in a public place,” a home ministry official said. The target can be a crowded public place or a Very Important Person, making it vital for India to safely detonate a bomb on the body of the suspect in case the person is identified and apprehended, the official added.