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Suicide Bombing of the Mineralnye Vody Train: Case Study in Using Open-Source Information for Open-Source Health Intelligence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Catherine Y. Lee ,
Timothy E. Davis  and
Eric K. Noji
Catherine Y. Lee*
Affiliation:
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Emory UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Center for Injury Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Timothy E. Davis
Affiliation:
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Emory UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Center for Injury Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA US Public Health Service National Disaster Medical System Washington, DC, USA
Eric K. Noji
Affiliation:
US Public Health Service and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington, DC and Atlanta, Georgia, USA
*
Catherine Y. Lee, MPH 4201 Wilson Boulevard #110-462Arlington, Virginia 22203USA E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

Open-source information consists of a range of publicly available material, includingvarious periodicals, news reports, journal publications, photographs, and maps. Although intelligence agencies regularly use open source information in developing strategically important intelligence, the disaster community has yet to evaluate its use for planning or research purposes. This study examines how open-source information, in the form of Internet news reports and public access disaster databases, can be used to develop a rapid, 72-hour case report.

Methods:

Open-source information was extrapolated from several news reports on a terrorist bombing that occurred in Russia on 05 December 2003, using a self-devised “data” collection sheet, and background information collected on the nature of similar disasters using three public access databases.

Results:

The bulk of health-related information was collected in the first 13 hours after the event, including casualty demographics, immediate dead, total dead, admitted, and treated-and-released. The complex and prolonged rescue of casualties was identified, as well as the presence of unexploded ordnance. This incident also was identified as the first publicly reported suicide terrorist bombing of a commuter train.

Conclusions:

Open-source information has the potential to be a helpful tool in reconstructing a chain of events and response. However, its use must be validated further and used appropriately. Standards for collection and analysis also must be developed.

Keywords

bombingdisasterintelligenceopen source informationRussiasuicide bombingtrain bombingterrorism
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , August 2007 , pp. 276 - 280
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2007

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