Etymologically, the phrase ‘assassin’ derives from the Arabic ‘hashshashin’ which referred to a group of militant Islamic killers in the medieval Middle East. Before vanishing into the crowd, the ‘assassin’ would go alone and, in these medieval times, commonly kill by gouging victims, including bodyguards with a knife or sword. As a result of their ‘hidden in plain sight’ way of life, the first assassins were feared by society as they are by most today.
The advent of new advanced and highly effective long-range weapons and firearms means that in modern times, it can be difficult to prevent a determined hired killer. Indeed, being able to engage targets from farther away greatly increases the assassins’ potential survival rate.
So, we can start to construct a picture of the modern derivative of the medieval hashshashin as an expert killer, loner and user of firearms. Yet, wielding a gun is not the only part of being a hitman. Today’s hitman also has to think about exit routes, personal safety and discretion.
When discussing getaway routes, most modern assassins will not enter a building without scouting the location first to find the most effective exfiltration strategies. Therefore, it’s good to be handy at reading maps and architectural schematics.
When it comes to discretion, bold sniper tactics can give cleaners concealment and most likely an easy getaway. Being a sniper requires hours of tuition, however, so some go for a more personal approach which may involve poisoning or suffocation. Still some popular methods waive discretion and attract a great deal more attention, particularly the use of explosives.
The Russian authorities who were thought to have given a lethal dose of radioactive polonium-210 to Alexander Litvinenko had to face a a wave of accusations were made against them in 2006. Apparently, the poison was passed to him in aerosol and sprayed directly onto his food. Litvinenko was a former KGB agent and had been given asylum in the UK six years earlier after claiming persecution in Russia. He issued a statement shortly before he passed away, accusing contemporary President of Russia Vladimir Putin of involvement in the poisoning. Therefore, poisoning does not always equal discretion.
As they can not accept work or may be caught by police if they themselves are injured, personal safety is a massive issue for all hitmen. Proven techniques for avoiding self damage include wearing protective body armour, choosing good exit lines, strategies and regular PT.
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This post was written by admin on March 31, 2010














