Shout It Loud

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 historical times, commonly kill by stabbing victims, including bodyguards with a knife or sword. The first assassins were hated by society as they are by most today as a result of their ‘hidden in plain sight’ way of life.

The invention of new advanced and highly effective long-range weapons and firearms means that in contemporary times, it can be difficult to prevent a determined hired killer. Indeed, being able to shoot at targets from farther away greatly increases the assassins’ potential survival rate.

So, we begin to build a picture of the modern derivative of the medieval hashshashin as a lone, expert killer and firearms user. However, wielding a gun is not the only part of being a hired gun. Today’s hitman also has to think about getaway routes, personal safety and discretion.   
When discussing escape routes, most modern hitmen 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, some hitmen prefer to go for bold sniper tactics which offer them concealment and most likely an easy getaway. Being a sniper requires hours of training, 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.

Recently, in 2006, a wave of claims were made against the Russian authorities who were thought to have passed a lethal dose of radioactive polonium-210 to Alexander Litvinenko. This toxin was possibly passed to him in aerosol and sprayed directly onto his food. After telling of his persecution in Russia, Litvinenko, a former KGB agent had been offered asylum in the UK six years earlier. He issued a statement shortly before his death, accusing contemporary President of Russia Vladimir Putin of involvement in the poisoning. This shows that using poison does not always equal discretion.

Finally, personal safety is a huge issue for all hired guns as they can not accept work or may be caught by police if they themselves are injured. Proven techniques for avoiding self damage include regular PT, choosing good exit lines and strategies and wearing protective body armour.