[Travis McGee]

The explosives used in the Madrid bomb that failed to detonate have already led police to the northern mining region of Asturias, and the arrest on Thursday of a Spanish worker thought to be of Moroccan origin. The man, who has not so far been named, is accused of passing the explosives to the bombers, possibly to one of the three men arrested on Thursday. He is thought to have stolen it in small amounts over an extended period.

His arrest throws the gravest doubt on security precautions intended prevent explosives falling into the wrong hands in a country that, even before 11 March, was already racked by Basque terrorism. The stolen Goma 2 Eco explosives in particular are meant to be controlled and registered by the Civil Guard at every stage of their journey from factory and back again (every surplus gramme is supposed to be returned).

The critical mistake was letting a Muslim work in the mining field around high explosives, where he could steal it over time.

Something funny about demo: when used as designed, it disappears. Sometimes, it disappears into the trunks of cars. Or so I have heard.

[Squantos]

When we arrived at a temporary location once in the middle east our handler told us to give our HE to a Qatari Bomb dump for safe keeping. When we went to the location to store it the expat BB stackin "employees" were all pali's and syrians. We said to hell with that and slept in a 5 star Hotel in downtown Doha with about 300 pounds of C etc etc stuffed into luggage qouicly purchased at a local souk , A-3 bags and rucks.

When one checks out 3000 pounds of UXO to do work on a construction site was the detonation witnessed by many 3000 pounds or 2500 pounds ? If ya don't have trusted folks doing the "entire task " of purchase, storage, prep and use then the sources will always remain open to theft , diversion and abuse.

Bottom line IMHO is this is one of the jobs your'a peein's wont do thus theft will continue in the mining and construction industry. The demining and construction folks won't pay top dollar for master blasters and their P2's. Sure dig the holes with coolie labor but then run em off and let the well paid blasters work. Guys paid well enough to not have to suppliment their pay with stolen goods that wind up in terrorist hands.

Stay Safe !