There are air-dropped explosive-powered EMP devices. If someone was building a bomb in the area of effect and had the detonator installed in the charge, he had a very bad day when the EMP set it off.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/hpm.htm
It only takes a 1/4 amp to detonate an electric blasting cap. Would not be surprised if this was targeted at a suspected or known bomb making location.
I doubt the Jihadists trust the martyrs to prime their own shots.
Interesting idea and nice catch.