National Geographic Channel premieres 'Combating Terror' on 11 September

NEW DELHI: This September, the National Geographic Channel explores some of the radical new anti-terrorist designs and technologies that help keep terror attacks at bay . From bomb-sniffing buses to futuristic smart guns to HiEnergy car bomb finder; technology is the key to outsmarting terror. Nat Geo's 'Combating Terror' premieres on Tuesday, September 11 at 10:00 pm (weeknights, till 21 September); it showcases the technologies being developed internationally to combat future terrorist attacks.

Terrorism in the 21st century is changing. The targets, techniques and technology are evolving. Terrorists are bigger, broader, dangerous and more sophisticated. Using dramatic documentary reconstruction, extensive research, interviews with experts, archival footage and Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) the series presents the latest cutting-edge technologies that are allowing us to push the limits while fighting the war against terror.

"India is one of the worst terror-effected regions in the world and Combating Terror discusses this topic in a unique manner. From safer transport to highly sophisticated intelligence systems, the need of the hour is to develop technologies that can stop terrorists before they attack. Through 'Outsmarting Terror', we showcase what pre-emptive measures are being taken the world-over to outsmart terror using research and technological advancements. The other episodes in the series showcase tragic terror attacks that could have been avoided ; these episodes give us insight s into the minds of the terrorists, which therefore could help us combat terrorism", said Rajesh Sheshadri, Vice President – Marketing, National Geographic Channel, India .

Combating Terror provides an in-depth look at global terrorism today through its nine featured episodes. The series premieres on September 11 with 'Outsmarting Terror' which looks at the unique technological innovations being used by various countries to fight terrorism. The other episodes include Bus 174, Iranian Embassy Siege, African Hijack, Pentagon 9-11, Munich Olympic Massacre, Terror in the Skies, Hijacked and Air Hijack.

Outsmarting Terror: Tuesday, 11 September, 10pm

Terrorism has become the scourge of the 21st century. And in the post-9/11 world, we live in a state of heightened paranoia: will the next attack be today? Can it be stopped? Nat Geo investigates the latest cutting-edge technologies that are pushing the limits on the war on terror. The film investigates new 'bomb-sniffing' buses that can potentially stop suicide bombers in their tracks, look at buildings that can actually brace for impact and see the development of 'smart' guns that can shoot around corners. It uses dramatic reconstruction and CGI to understand the anatomy of some of the world's most notorious terrorist strikes and demonstrate how high-tech weaponry and defense systems could have lessened the attacks or prevented them altogether. In the wake of the terrorist bombings in London and Madrid, scientists are probing other modes of transportation for vulnerabilities. Is there a way to stop bombers before they get anywhere near their crowded targets and can we detect car bombs before they are detonated? Nat Geo investigates the latest in perimeter security - devices like the HiEnergy CarBomb Finder - that can sweep a vehicle for chemical signatures of explosives and the Siegma 3E3, a particle accelerator that fits in an aluminum suitcase and can check suspicious objects via remote control.

Bus 174: Wednesday, 12 September, 10pm

On June 12th, 2000, a bus filled with passengers was hijacked in Rio de Janeiro in broad daylight. The kidnapper, Sandro do Nascimento, terrorized his victims for four and a half hours as the whole country watched the drama broadcast live on Brazilian TV. Based on an extensive research of stock footage, interviews and official documents, BUS 174 is the careful investigation of the hijacking - focusing on Sandro do Nascimento, his childhood, and how unavoidably he was doomed to become a bandit.

Iranian Embassy Siege: Thursday, 13 September, 10pm

On 30th April 1980, six armed terrorists stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, holding 26 people hostage. Despite intense police negotiation, the siege lasted for six days. On the sixth day the Special Air Service (SAS) was given authority to move in and rescue the captives while the whole world watched on live television. By using dramatic documentary reconstruction, archival footage, graphics and key interviews with those involved, we bring to life this dramatic rescue.

Munich Olympic Massacre: Friday, 14 September, 10pm

The 1972 Munich Olympics holds significant promise, offering a chance to showcase a new Germany to a post-World War II world. However, this hopeful beginning meets a tragic end on September 5 at just after 4:00 AM when Palestinian terrorists kill two Israeli athletes and capture 9 others. As police struggle to handle the crisis, the terrorists anticipate their every move. By 1:30 AM on 6 September, the fighting finally stops, and all of the athletes, five terrorists and one German police officer are dead. With the circumstances behind the police's actions shrouded in mystery, one athlete's wife vows to uncover the truth.

African Hijack: Monday, 17 September, 10pm

On November 23, 1996, an Ethiopian Airlines B-767 aircraft en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Kenya, was hijacked. The aircraft carried 163 passengers and 12 crew members. Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, three Ethiopian men approached the cockpit from the rear of the aircraft and forced their way into the cockpit. The hijackers ordered the pilot to fly to Australia at an altitude of 39,000 feet, saying they knew that the aircraft could reach that destination since it could fly 11 hours. The pilot tried to convince them that the plane didn't have enough fuel, but without success. So he decided to trick them. Instead of flying east across the Indian Ocean, he flew south along the coast of Africa and even got Kenyan air traffic control to play along with the deception. The events that unfolded brought about the deadliest hijacking ever.

Pentagon 9-11: Tuesday, 18 September, 10pm

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines flight 77 is hijacked by terrorists some 30 minutes after taking off from Dulles airport in Virginia. Less than an hour later, it slams directly into the Pentagon's West Wall at nearly 530 mph, destroying 30 structural columns and killing 184 innocent people and the 5 terrorists. Pentagon 9/11 deconstructs second-by-second one of the tragic events that led to the worst day of terrorist attacks on American soil.

Hijacked: Wednesday, 19 September, 10pm

In Algiers on Christmas Eve in 1994, an Air France Airbus carrying 239 people was hijacked by four Algerian terrorists just before take off. They demanded the release from prison of Muslim leaders held by the Algerian authorities. 63 passengers were released, but the Algerian politicians refused to meet the hijackers' demands. In retaliation, the hijackers killed a passenger and dumped the body. The Algerians leadership was unmoved. A second passenger was killed and then a third. As a result of pressure exerted by the French government, the plane took off for Marseilles. Once in Marseilles, the French authorities conducted a cat-and-mouse game with the terrorists to keep them on the ground. French intelligence had learned that the hijackers intended to go on to Paris from Marseilles and explode the plane over the city. 54 hours after the hijack G.I.G.N. (France's counter-terrorism unit) launched one of the most daring and successful special forces operations ever seen - the G.I.G.N. stormed the plane, killing the terrorists and freeing all 173 passengers and crew onboard.

Air Hijack: Thursday, 20 September, 10pm

On Christmas Eve 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 takes off from Kathmandu, Nepal on its way to New Delhi, India. En route the flight is hijacked by five masked men who have managed to smuggle onboard guns, knives and grenades. The 189 passengers and crew on board are held at gunpoint as the hijackers force the pilots to fly to Lahore, Pakistan. As the drama unfolds we follow IC814 through its journey as it travels for hundreds of kilometers. First Amritsar, India, then Lahore, Pakistan, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and finally Kandahar, Afghanistan, then under the Taliban regime. Along the way this haphazard journey claims an innocent life... and the terrified passengers wait, locked inside the airplane. The hijackers are demanding the release of terrorists imprisoned in Indian jails, as well as 200 million in ransom money. The Indian government, which does not recognize the Taliban regime, takes days to send in a team of negotiators. Can the negotiators influence these implacable terrorists? What will happen to the passengers as the hours stretch into days? What will be the final outcome? And what will be the repercussions of the final decision?

Terror In The Skies: Friday, 21 September, 10pm

On November 23, 1985, Egypt Air Flight 648 departs from Athens, Greece. Twenty minutes into the flight, Mohammed Ali Rezaq, a member of the terrorist organization, Egypt's Revolution, and two accomplices hijack the plane with handguns and grenades. In the cabin, an Egyptian air marshal engages the terrorists in a high-altitude gun fight. He is killed but manages to fatally wound one of the terrorists. Quickly running out of fuel and losing pressure in the cabin, the pilot has to land in Malta. When Maltese authorities refuse to give in to his demands for fuel, Rezaq starts shooting passengers point-blank in the head. In a nearby hangar, Egyptian Commandos plan a rescue operation. In the aftermath of the operation, many passengers and another terrorist are dead. Rezaq, the only surviving terrorist, is tried in Malta and sentenced to 25 years in prison. But the nightmare continues when he is released 7 years later. Follow the FBI and Interpol as they track this brutal killer from Malta to Ghana, then to Nigeria where he is at last placed under U.S. custody and brought to justice.