Scorpion bombs: ISIS latest terror invention

Scorpion bombs: ISIS latest terror invention

The Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq have devised a new terror tactic. The terrorists have built bombs containing hundreds of live scorpions designed to spread fear among their enemies.

Canisters packed with poisonous varieties of scorpion are being blasted into towns and villages, which explode on impact - scattering the scorpions and causing panic among the innocent local population.


The scorpion bomb tactic is a reinvention of thousands of years old practice that was first deployed by Iraqis fighting against the Roman Empire.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, ex-head of chemical and biological weapons for the Army and NATO, told The Mirror that ISIS had improvised devices to launch the poisonous creatures in 2ft bombs.

He said: 'Scorpions are robust – even if they are launched a couple of miles, when the canister breaks thousands are flung out and start crawling all around.

'Some scorpions are very poisonous but the main thing is creating fear.'

Mr de Bretton-Gordon, who returned from Baghdad last week where he was advising security forces, said that the bombs are not causing casualties but had a profound 'psychological impact'.
 “It’s madness. ISIS jihadists have improvised devices to launch them,” The British military expert said.

“They promote the fact that they are doing it and it creates panic. “Scorpions are robust – even if they are launched a couple of miles, when the canister breaks thousands are flung out and start crawling all around. “Some scorpions are very poisonous but the main thing is creating fear.”