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Vehicle Assassination Attack Tactics

THE MOVING ATTACK

In order to discuss offensive driving techniques associated with protection of public figures, it is first necessary to become acquainted with the modus operandi of the attackers. A cross-section of vehicle assassination attacks, ranging from the gangland killings to South American terrorist group assassinations, was studied to determine the pattern of the typical attack and the specific vehicle tactics employed. A summary of key points identified in these case studies appears below:

In most cases studied, the attack was carried out by employing two vehicles. One vehicle was employed to impede or cut off the target vehicle; the other vehicle was employed to launch the attack itself. For example, in one instance an attractive girl in a Volkswagen passed the target vehicle and, when in front of it, suddenly slowed down to impede the target vehicle's progress. As the second attack car moved into position alongside the target vehicle and the firing began, the girl accelerated away and turned into a side street.
In general, the attack vehicle held three persons; a driver, a man in front with the driver, and a man in the right rear seat. Both passengers usually brought weapons to bear on the target vehicle during the attack. The impeding vehicle frequently held only the driver.
All successful attacks were carried out from the left-hand or driver's side of the target vehicle. Firing started as the attackers reached the rear blind spot in the driver's vision and firing continued as the attackers passed the target vehicle until they reached a position where they could no longer bring their guns to bear.
Attacks generally took place where cross streets or turn offs were available to allow the attackers a quick, easy escape after the attack.
Estimated time duration of the studied attacks was from 10 to 15 seconds with about 10 to 15 rounds being fired at point blank range by each gunner
When a single vehicle was used, the same blind spot attack pattern was employed. However, because of more maneuvering options available to the target vehicle, the attacks were usually somewhat shorter in duration and, in general, less effective.
Surprise appears to be the key factor in all vehicle attack techniques. In cases where the driver was alert and suspicious of vehicles behind him and react defensively, the evasive actions of the target vehicle frequently frustrated the attackers by denying them the element of surprise and preventing their movement into effective attack position.
In almost every case, the confusion caused by the attack resulted in no reliable description or license number of the attacker's vehicle being obtained. Most vehicles were stolen or rented for the attack.
Target vehicle driver errors. Information provided by survivors of attacks and/or from studies of the site of the attacks tends to indicate the following driver errors:
The attack was completely unexpected." (The driver wasn't alert).
The driver suddenly found himself "boxed in" and unable to take defensive or evasive action. (The driver was not alert, observant, or driving defensively).
When the attack was launched, the driver attempted to steer to the right, away from the attacking vehicle, and in so doing, trapped his vehicle against the curb line of parked cars. This action gave the attackers more maneuvering room and enabled them to more effectively bring their guns to bear on the target vehicle. (Driver not alert; driver reacted to induced panic caused by the attacker's actions instead of reacting defensively or offensively).
In one case, the driver attached not significance to or saw no danger in a vehicle full of young men following him. He thought they "just young smart alecks out for a joy ride". (Driver was not alert or trained).

In summation, it should be noted that the driver's constant alertness to conditions around him and suspicion of other vehicles maneuvering in the traffic flow often enabled him to reduce the surprise element of the attack and hence the effectiveness of the attack. In some cases, driver alertness and suspicion foiled the attackers by denying them attack position. When attacked, some drivers were able to effectively break off the attack or shorten attack duration by employing offensive driving tactics.

THE AMBUSH ATTACK

Another type of attack is possible. This is the prepared ambush sprung from carefully selected positions along the road. By definition, the action will take place at a time and location chosen by the attacker. He will probably have calculated firing angles and blocked the road. His aim is to halt the subject's vehicle within a killing zone and destroy him there. The driver's emergency reaction will be determined by the position of the attacker relative to the vehicle's position. If the ambush is launched from an area directly adjacent to the road:

The driver applies full power attempts to drive out of the killing zone.
If his way is blocked and he cannot reverse or ram his way clear, he should drive into the ambush. This will disrupt firing angles and place the least vulnerable part of the car between the subject and the attackers. This will also disconcert the attackers who will probably have assumed the driver would go to the opposite side. It should be noted that when such prepared ambushes were employed in Southeast Asia the opposite side of the road was frequently booby-trapped to prevent escape.
The trailing escort vehicle should halt as soon as the ambush is sprung. At all cost, the escort security force must avoid being caught in the killing zone. Their principal task is to flank the ambush and clear it. Even if they do not succeed in overrunning the attack position, their maneuver and the attackers response it induces will reduce the amount and effectiveness of the fire directed at the public figure.
Security personnel caught with the subject in the killing zone must immediately return fire. It is imperative that they do all that is possible to disrupt the carefully planned ambush sequence. Return fire is, by far, the most efficient method of achieving this end. A smoke screen or tear-gas cloud has also proven effective. The occupants of the public figure's vehicle, in a static ambush situation, should elect to remain inside the vehicle and the protection it offers. A study of post-assassination attacks makes it clear that in most cases where individuals exited the vehicle they were killed when the attackers were positioned less than 100 yards distance. A well-prepared static ambush that succeeds in isolating its victim away from all protective cover inside the killing zone will inevitably be successful. The only real hope of survival is to utilize the available protection and attempt to suppress incoming fire until the flanking security forces drive the ambushers away.

Even if the attacker's firing position is some distance from the roadway, the public figure driver initially reacts the same. He must try to escape the killing zone.

The driver of the public figure vehicle, which has been stopped by an ambush situation, should first attempt to reverse his direction and break contact with the attackers. A reversal of direction will not only removes the public figure from the killing zone, but also represents movement toward protective reserve forces positioned along the previously traveled route.

Three basic reversal of direction or vehicle turn about maneuvers may be employed in these situations, in addition to simply backing away from the attack. The selection and employment of any particular type of reversal action depends upon several factors; the road and shoulder condition, the width of the road, the position of the public figure vehicle in the road, and the turning radius of the vehicle.

The driver may elect to simply place the vehicle in reverse and back away from the zone but, because the speed of the vehicle in reverse gear is comparatively slow (10 to 20 mph), the vehicle should resume travel in a forward direction as soon as is practical. Figure 3 illustrates three basic vehicle reversals of direction maneuvers, which may be employed to break contact with the attackers in ambush situations. These and similar maneuvers may also be usefully employed under other attack conditions.