Peenie Wallie: TATP, PETN, and Semtex

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July 23, 2005

TATP, PETN, and Semtex - Terrorist Playdough

The London Muslim Bombings of 7/7 and failed bombing attempts 7/21 used the extremely unstable plastic explosive TATP("triacetone triperoxide"). TATP is less powerful than plastic explosives, and less stable. But it's a favorite among the terrorists because you can mix up a batch in the bathtub from commonly available ingredients: sulphuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and acetone. The problem is that it's EXTEREMELY volatile, and can detonate from sparks or sudden movement. It's a favorite among Hamas, and a reason they've lost so many suicide bombers prematurely over the years.

Egyptian chemistry student Magdy Elnashar, 33, wanted by police in connection with the 7/7 London bombings was arrested in Cairo. So, this is probably the guy that figured out how to mix the TATP ingredients in a bath tub.

Richard Reid, the failed shoe-bomber, had TATP and PETN in his shoes. PETN, or "pentarythritoltetranitrate", is a high-grade military plastic explosive.

The "sniffers" at the airport only detect certain types of explosives.

Vapor detectors and particle detectors, generally known as sniffers, identify explosives by their particulate or gaseous elements. When properly used, sniffers can assist in the limited detection of a narrow range of explosive compositions, but negative results always require other methods of screening.

A vapor detector can identify volatile explosive compounds that have a high vapor pressure, such as nitroglycerin found in older dynamite made with a formula that has since changed. [snip] However, vapor detectors will miss explosives with a low vapor pressure, such as plastic explosives, PETN, or black powder. In one test I conducted, for example, a vapor detector failed to register a hit for a bottle that was filled with SEMTEC.

[snip]

The second type of sniffer is a particle detector, which looks for trace amounts of chemical compounds that may be found in some explosive devices. These devices analyze the chemical signatures of the substances present on a package. The technology works on the premise that if a person has been handling explosives, their hands will be contaminated with residue, which will then be transferred to the package. Samples are collected either through a vacuum hose or with swipe pads, gloves, and cards. The sample is placed into the particle detector, which heats up the substance and displays the results on the system's small monitor.

These instruments ... are ideally suited for detection of postblast explosive residues, and have been helpful in investigations like the World Trade Center and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombings. Particle detectors have also been used with marginal success to sample rooms where suspected terrorists have developed an explosive device.

[snip]

These instruments are best at identifying rarely used explosive compounds such as RDX, PETN, HMX, NG, TNT, DNT, and some bulk nitrate explosives. Most bombings in the United States consist of pipe bombs filled with smokeless or black powder, which particle detectors are currently incapable of identifying. In rare circumstances, however, the particle detector may detect nitrates present in high quantities.

Well-sealed explosives may not be identified by the particle detector. Also, because the device requires operators to vacuum or swipe packages, the suspect items are subject to handling forces that may cause them to explode. For example, to collect valid samples with the vacuum model, the nozzle must have good contact with the surface of the package. Vacuum systems that do not make contact with the surface are ineffective.

Although unlikely, the vacuum hoses may cause a sufficient amount of static electricity discharge to initiate a bomb's firing components or explosive compounds.

So, apparently, the sniffers at the airport might be able to detect PETN, RDX, and Semtex(Semtex is made of PETN and another plastic explosive known as RDX). But TATP and black powder can't be detected by the "sniffers" in the airports. So, keep that in mind next time you go to the airport.

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