INVESTIGATING FINGERPRINT FINDINGS ON IMPROVISED INCENDIARY WEAPONS OBTAINED AT CRIME SCENES IN THE CASES OF THROWING MOLOTOV BOMBS

Explosions and molotov bomb throwing actions have prominent economic, psychological and social effects on the collective memory since they inflict nonrecoverable wounds. One of the prominent purposes of the crime scene investigation is to investigate the fingerprints in order to identify the identity of the offender. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of heat on the quality of fingerprints on the findings obtained in crime scene and to create the standards to use as a routine investigation method in criminal laboratories of the law enforcers. Few studies have been published and little is known about this subject. The paper aims to discuss these issue. In this study, 720 fingerprint samples, which were created according to the conditions that would exist in the crime scenes after an explosion or handmade incendiary weapons incidents, had been examined. "Super Glue" and "SPR" methods were used on metal and glass samples and "Ninhydrin" method were used on paper samples in order to create fingerprints. All the samples were exposed to temperatures varying between 50 degrees C-300 degrees C. When different temperatures were taken into consideration, fingerprints suitable for comparison were obtained under all surface and environmental conditions up to 300 degrees C. We are of the opinion that this study which is conducted for the first time in our country would significantly contribute to the identification of attackers and shed light on the incidents, especially in terrorist events.