Posted on 07/21/2005 8:55:11 PM PDT by traumer
Experts were unsure last night whether yesterday's devices were intended to cause greater harm.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that most of the explosives used in the attempted attacks were triacetonetriperoxide - TACP - the same substance thought to have been used in the 7/7 attacks and was said to have been recovered from a suspected bomb factory in Leeds.
TACP is known to degrade over time, which may explain why none of yesterday's devices exploded after the detonators were activated.
Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan police commissioner, said some of the devices remained unexploded and that attempts had been made to set them off.
An explosives expert, Andy Oppenheimer of Jane's Information Group, said the small blasts could have been down to the bombs failing to explode properly or there being little explosive present.
"It may be that there was a malfunction but it is not certain that there was substantial explosive in the devices.
"This type of malfunction used to happen to the IRA, who had expert bombmakers ... It could be bad workmanship or it could be a deliberate attempt to disrupt the city two weeks later."
An army bomb disposal expert told the Guardian it was very unlikely that four devices would malfunction in the same way at the same time.
"It is possible for the detonator to come out and just explode. The chances of all four doing that are remote."
Homemade bombs typically use a small amount of high explosive to set off a larger quantity of less volatile material.
Witnesses reported seeing white powder after the blast on the Hackney Road bus. Acetone peroxide, linked to the July 7 attacks, can be used both as a detonator and to cause larger explosions.
The compound, which looks like a white power, was used as a detonator by the attempted shoe bomber Richard Reid.
Hans Michels, an explosives expert at Imperial College London, said a batch of acetone peroxide would turn to vapour so quickly it would lose almost two-thirds of its mass over a couple of weeks unless stored properly.
Maybe it already is...? (acetone spiked by heavy metals)
The only thing that stopped them was the hand of God and their own stupidity.
Bad mixture to begin with?
Atleast 52 ex-Londoners might have trouble believing that ;) (unless they are willing to believe that the "infinitely benevolent supreme being" wanted them dead).
Then the material for the first bombs on July 7 would be either not makeable at all or would blow up during handling.
Doubtful it was a brag. Multiple witnesses saw the erstwhile suicide bombers backpacks explode - and then the fools ran away trailing wires, which I assume were for the detonators on their bodies. Kind of comical if you think about it.
So the bombers did intend to do something other than look silly.
Its beginning to sound a lot like a batch problem.
Yep, if we do the "right things for the right reasons" nothing but the best will follow.
Agree with you premise. I have heard that bomb material degrades over time, e.g., our own nuclear supply. I sincerely regret that the Egyptian government allowed the chemist to go free. Undoubtedly, more people will lose life and limb because of it.
That's why I find it curious that they haven't stated one way or the other what was found. It would seem obvious after examining the packs.
Expect another attack. Soon.
Even the best detonator can fail. In an attempt to assasinate Hitler a wine bottle full of explosive was placed aboard his plane and a high quality British detonator was used. It failed to go off and later examination showed that the timer worked, but the primer failed to fire.
what about the possibility of your 'b' team using leftovers rather than making up a new batch since they didn't have their chemist? that would certainly explain the malfunction. 2 weeks+ would cause great deterioration. most bombers probably wouldn't even know that unless their chemist explained it. also.. possibility of simply trying to get rid of leftovers before the bobbies got to them?
God allows evil because he can bring greater good from it.
One word: distillation
"It is scary that someone pulled this off, that may be the actual "message".
One needs only ppm's, and ppm's are not that easy to get rid of. And quality distillation equipment is available from limited number of suppliers and thus can be controlled. Actually, ATF people (A part) could be supposed to do that.
At first I thought the 7/7 bombers were duped. But the idea of the "suicide" policy is "Dead Men tells no tales". So look at the botched 7/21 bombings as a gift...not just dead men but lotsa forensic evidence. The "kill" policy might be just what the terrorists want.
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