MovieChat Forums > Traffic (2004) Discussion > Exploding cell phone, is it possible?

Exploding cell phone, is it possible?


I was just wondering if it's really possible to turn cell phone into a weapon like it was portrayed on the show. I mean I know the terrorist cells use cell phones for IEDs, but I've never seen it or heard of it being used this way. This is actually scary to think that it can be done like this.

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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahya_Ayyash#Assassination:

In October 1995, Shin Bet operatives approached Kamil Hamad. Kamil Hamad demanded money and Israeli identity cards for himself and his wives. After the Shin Bet threatened to inform Hamas of his betrayal, Kamil Hamad agreed to cooperate. Shin Bet agents gave Hamad a cell phone, and told him it was bugged so they could listen in on Ayyash's conversations. They did not tell Hamad that, in addition to eavesdropping devices, it also contained 15 grams of RDX explosive.

Kamil Hamad gave the phone to his nephew Osama, knowing that Ayyash regularly used Osama's phones. At 8:00 am on 5 January 1996, Ayyash's father called him. Ayyash picked it up and talked with his father. Overhead, an Israeli plane picked up their conversation and relayed it to an Israeli command post. When it was confirmed that it was Ayyash on the phone, Shin Bet remotely detonated it, killing Ayyash instantly.

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