The proxy bomb, also known as a human bomb, is a tactic that was used mainly by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Northern Ireland during the conflict known as "the Troubles". It involved forcing people (including off-duty members of the British security forces or people working for the security forces) to drive car bombs to British military targets after placing them or their families under some kind of threat (as human shields or hostages) The tactic was later adopted by the FARC in Colombia and by rebels in the Syrian Civil War.