Improvised explosive device : mobile phone

Mobile phone with in-built camera. The phone casing is covered in a patterned red, green and white adhesive tape with only the screen, camera and keypad uncovered. The keypad is in Arabic.

Coalition Forces were notified by Afghan National Police of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and while investigating the device they identified a mobile phone and a dual tone multi frequency decoder attached to the main charge. Mobile phones can trigger an IED by sending a ring tone or vibration to a decoder.

IEDs have caused more casualties to Australian service personnel in Afghanistan than any other weapon. They usually consist of four principal components arranged in an electrical circuit: a trigger or switch, a power source, a detonator, and a main explosive charge. The main charge often contains metal fragments to increase the blast effect.