What is shrapnel? Bomb fragments that cause terrible injuries and can include nails, metal shards and ball bearings
WHEN we hear of tragic bombings and explosions often shrapnel injuries are also reported.
But what exactly is shrapnel and what causes it? Here's what you need to know...
What is shrapnel?
Shrapnel is the general term for fragmentation that is thrown out as a bomb, shell or other object explodes.
These fragments can contain metal shards and, in some instances, glass, nails or ball bearings that have been included in the bomb. with the aim of causing maximum damage and injury to the target.
Today, bombs containing shrapnel are favoured by terrorists, suicide bombers and other militants because they can be cheaply produced and easily hidden.
Shrapnel also has the ability to injure and cause panic on a wide scale.
What can shrapnel cause?
Shrapnel from a bomb can cause life-changing injuries or even kill as fragments hit a person.
The impact of a shrapnel injury depends on two factors - the speed that the fragments hit the body and the area of the body it hits.
Shrapnel has the ability to slice through flesh and cause awful wounds (like a bullet fired from a gun) and if shrapnel hits bone it has the ability to break and shatter it.
In April 2018, a plane was pierced by shrapnel after the jet's engine exploded.
This resulted in the death of a passenger who was drawn out of the plane.
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What happened in the Manchester bombing?
On May 22, 2017, 22 people were killed and at least 64 injured after a terrorist bomb attack at a teen pop concert in the Manchester Arena.
Many of those killed were innocent young children there to watch US pop star Ariana Grande, who had just left the stage.
Thousands who had watched the appearance fled after hearing a “massive bang” with crowds of screaming and crying teens rushing from the venue.
Witnesses told how nuts and bolts were sent flying in the blast at the foyer area as fans made their way to Manchester Victoria train station next door.
The blast was said to have been caused by a nail bomb.
Paramedics on the scene also spoke of treating serious "shrapnel-like" injuries caused by the blast.