When the death toll of a suicide bombing is reported, do they count the bomber as well? If I hear on the news that 30 people have been killed in a suicide attack, does that mean 29 civilians plus one bomber, or 30 people… plus one? Just (morbidly) curious.
Once accurate death tolls are compiled (often some time after the event), subsequent reports tend to exclude the bombers. Compare, re. London July 7th bombs:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2005/london_explosions/default.stm
Careful use of language by the Beeb, to be accurate about the ommission…‘lost their lives’ (as opposed to ‘lives were ended’). Similarly, “52 people were killed by suicide bomb attacks” would be accurate.
I know I’ve read headlines of school or other public shootings that say, “7 dead in shooting” and one of the seven turns out to be the shooter, who shot themselves. I’d imagine suicide bombings would be reported the same way.
Of course, it might depending on the phrasing. “7 victims of bombing” probably wouldn’t include the bomber, as I wouldn’t call him a victim.