Death from an improvised explosive device (IED) in Nepal

Abstract

Blast injuries can be caused by pressurised containers like gas cylinders, tyres, etc., and are commonly associated with wars and terrorist attacks. The injuries suffered will depend on the type of explosion, for example from shock wave, burns and fractures, which mainly affect the lungs and hollow organs. Accurately noting the nature and extent of any blast injuries suffered will help to explain the patho-mechanism of these injuries. We report a case of 49-year-old pedestrian who sustained bomb blast injuries at a mobile phone tower office in Nepal. An improvised explosive device was used in the attack. All the peculiarities and typical features of blast injuries were evident at autopsy and may provide useful information for researchers studying explosive-related deaths.