A suicide vest, also known as an explosive belt or bomb vest, is an improvised explosive device worn on the upper body, usually as a vest or belt packed with explosives and armed with a detonator. It is worn by suicide bombers and commonly contains shrapnel like ball bearings, nails, or screws to maximize casualties when detonated. The vest is designed to be hidden under clothing and is used to cause a lethal explosion by suicide attackers.

Detailed Description

• The explosive vest typically consists of several cylinders or plates filled with explosives.
• It is surrounded by a fragmentation jacket that produces shrapnel, which is responsible for the majority of the damage caused by the blast.
• The vest can weigh between 5 to 20 kilograms (10 to 45 pounds).
• It often has shoulder straps and covers the stomach area.

Context of Use

• Explosive vests have been used historically in conflicts, including by Chinese soldiers in the Second Sino-Japanese War who used explosives to stop enemy tanks.
• They are a method of suicide attack, where the wearer detonates the device to kill themselves along with others nearby.

This description clarifies the lethal and aggressive nature of a suicide vest as an explosively armed garment intended for suicide bombing attacks.