Citation

Delannoy Y, Delabarde T, Plu I, Legrand L, Taccoen M, Tracqui A, Ludes B. Int. J. Legal Med. 2019; 133(2): 565-569.

Affiliation

Toulouse University, CNRS UMR 5288, AMIS, F-31000, Toulouse, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00414-018-1977-3

PMID

30498903

Abstract

In cases of terrorist bomb attacks, the issue of victim identification is the principal aim. For investigators and justice, terrorists must also be identified in a timely manner. The fragmentation of bodies caused by explosive devices however makes this operation difficult. The cases presented correspond to six autopsies of perpetrators carrying explosives. Their explosive belts produced different body sections on areas correlated with the location on the body of carrying explosive charges. Indeed, cross-sectional areas are the signature of the level of explosive devices on the body, and some fracture features through the damage of certain areas of constitutional weaknesses are specific elements to consider. These elements can allow a quick distinction between victims and terrorists, in order to assist in the medico-legal process of identification.

Language: en

Keywords

Anthropology; Blast injuries; Bone traumas; Forensic medicine; Suicide bombing