DoD Incident Safety Officer Practice Test

Suicide bombers primarily carry explosive vests or belts as their primary means of executing their attacks. These devices are designed to maximize destruction and casualties by detonating near targets, often in crowded areas to ensure a higher impact. The design of these explosive devices allows the bomber to conceal them beneath clothing, making them difficult to detect prior to the attack.

In contrast, the other options listed are not consistent with the typical methods employed by suicide bombers. Rifles and handguns, while potentially used in various attacks, do not align with the specific tactics associated with suicide bombings, where a high-impact explosion is the objective. Crowd-dispersal devices and non-lethal weapons further deviate from the intention behind suicide bombing, which focuses on lethal force and mass casualties rather than crowd control or non-lethal engagement. Thus, the use of explosive vests or belts is crucial to the operational goal of instilling fear and causing significant harm in such attacks.