Car bomb

A car bomb is an improvised explosive device that is placed in a car or truck and is intended to be exploded while there. It is a favorite weapon of terrorists, guerrillas and assassins because the car bomb acts as its own delivery mechanism and can carry a relatively large amount of explosive without attracting undue suspicion. Truck bombs are also popular -- trucks can crash through barriers more easily and can hold a great deal more explosives. Timothy McVeigh infamously bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City with a Ryder truck filled with ammonia/fertilizer explosive (ammonium nitrate). Motorcycle and even bicycle bombs have also been used.

Assassinations by car bombings (by date)