Archive for Bombs/Explosives
Peroxide-Based Explosives: Components Police Officers Need To Look For
Posted by: | CommentsAs if police officers didn’t have enough problems, the threat of high-powered explosives continues to grow as terrorists (home-grown and international) become more adept at synthesizing dangerous chemical compounds. Becoming familiar with some of the precursors to home made explosives can increase your own safety, and help prevent a deadly terrorism incident in your own jurisdiction. See also my post on bottle bombs here.
Peroxide-based explosives can be made into liquid or solid explosives using common hydrogen peroxide. If you will reach back to your high school chemistry class, you may recall that hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer. Mixing concentrated hydrogen peroxide (CHP) with a fuel can create a liquid explosive. Fuels such as acetone and ethanol may be used, but even things like black pepper and sugary drink powders can be used. Different fuels mixed with varying concentrations of CHP can create explosives that range from high energy to low energy.
Liquid peroxide-based explosives have been used in a variety of international terrorist incidents, the highest profile being the attacks on the London transit system in 2005. The terrorists in the foiled 2006 plot to blow up several airplanes were also planning on using liquid peroxide-based bombs.
Two different solid peroxide-based explosives can be synthesized from liquid peroxide explosives. They are triacetonetriperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD). Both of these compounds are very dangerous to make, handle, and use, as they detonate very easily. Keep this in mind should you ever stumble across someone who might be mixing this stuff up. Due to its unstable nature, it has been nicknamed the “Mother of Satan.”
TATP is normally seen as crystals, and HMTD is seen as powder.
TATP and HMTD have been used in a myriad of explosions such as:
- an alleged member of the Glass Dessert Underground anarchist group who died in an explosion while making TATP in July 2006 in Texas
- a University of Oklahoma student died while carrying TATP that exploded outside a college football game in October 2005
- a man was convicted in 2002 of making HMTD in an apparent attempt to commit acts of terror in in the UK
- the “Millennium Bomber” had, among other explosives, HMTD in his possession as part of his planned attack on LAX
So, while I won’t tell you how to mix this stuff up yourself, I will tell you a few things you should pay attention to while on traffic stops, or when you are in someone’s home. If you run into something you suspect may be one of these nasty substances, back off and call the guys in the funny suits.
Chemicals to watch for:
- hydrogen peroxide antiseptic
- hair coloring
- wood bleach
- acetone
- ethanol
- nitro methane
- sulfuric acid
- citric acid
- haxamine (solid fuel for camp stoves)
Indicators of manufacturing:
- foul odors/caustic fumes
- paint discoloration
- metal corrosion
- structural damage
- strong chemical odors from exterior drains/sewers
- multiple fans in multiple windows
- dead vegetation
- refrigerators and coolers
Stay safe!
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Bottle Bombs: Easy To Make, Dangerous to Encounter
Posted by: | CommentsHomemade bombs have been in and out of the news in recent years. Often, we hear about “pipe bombs,” which are often made of PVC and packed with black powder as an explosive, and metal and glass for shrapnel.
Another threat to police officers are “bottle bombs.” Bottle bombs are usually made by mixing common household chemicals in a bottle. The reaction of the chemicals is what causes the explosion. The force of the explosion causes most of the damage, but the chemicals themselves are toxic, and can cause burns to exposed skin or lung tissue (if inhaled.)
Precursors used in the manufacture of these bombs include cleaning chemicals, gasoline, chlorine, and alcohol. The delay in time from mixing the chemicals to the explosion can vary from a few minutes to an hour depending on what was mixed, in what quantities, and the size of the container. The container can be almost anything, but 2-liter and smaller soda bottles are frequently used.
Keep your eyes open for anything that might be used to make these bombs when inside residences. Be extremely careful if you locate any potential devices, and contact the bomb squad to dispose of them. That’s what they get paid the big bucks for, right?
Stay safe!
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