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Federal Investigators Probe High-Tech Explosives Theft
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1421579 ^ | ABC-TV

Posted on 12/19/2005 4:43:42 PM PST by MindBender26

Dec. 19, 2005 — About 400 pounds of explosive material was stolen from a research facility in New Mexico, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed today.

The theft was discovered Sunday night by local authorities. ATF agents are investigating the large theft from Cherry Enginering, a company owned by Chris Cherry, for decades the senior explosives scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

"It is a very dangerous material, we want to keep this off the streets," Cherry told ABC News. Also, 2,500 detonators were missing from a storage explosive container, or magazine, in the name of Cherry Engineering.

The theft is one of the largest reported cases from a facility in the United States in the last decade ending 2004. During that time, a total of about 1,000 pounds was reported stolen from government facilities in 14 reported incidents. It is unknown whether there is any connection to terrorism.

A special agent at ATF said the incident was unusual because such high-powered material was targeted.

One hundred and fifty pounds of the plastic explosive compound C-4 and 250 pounds of undetectable "sheet explosives" — a flexible explosive material that can be hidden in books and letters — were stolen in the burglary, which also included the theft of blasting caps.

Burglars used a torch bar to break into the explosives containers and remove the material.

The missing material could potentially make numerous bombs.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: New Mexico; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: batf; explosives; missing
Undetectable is not a word I like to see when it is being used to describe explosives.
1 posted on 12/19/2005 4:43:43 PM PST by MindBender26
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To: MindBender26

I'm surprised ABC isn't investigating the investigators, and making sure they're not violating the civil rights of the thieves.


2 posted on 12/19/2005 4:50:53 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (Warning: Adult language, but great message: http://foamy.libertech.net/noxmas.swf)
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To: MindBender26

There is certainly nothing good that can come from this.


3 posted on 12/19/2005 4:51:16 PM PST by 7mmMag@LeftCoast
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To: MindBender26
Burglars used a torch bar to break into the explosives containers and remove the material.

Sounds like these people knew what they were looking for not random.

4 posted on 12/19/2005 4:51:33 PM PST by Lady Heron
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To: MindBender26
I wonder if those new devices that detect traces of explosives on airline passengers can detect this "undetectable" explosive...

Not a good thing to have stolen.
5 posted on 12/19/2005 4:57:02 PM PST by DocRock
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To: MindBender26

Anyone associated with OU unaccounted for that day?

Now, boys and girls, remember we must all be PC about this and not accuse any one group of wrong doing. We also don't want over step our boundaries and listen in on any phone calls or check any computers or even so much as question anyone who isn't a US citizen with ancestors back to Jamestowne and who is white, blue eyed, and has blonde hair.


6 posted on 12/19/2005 4:58:08 PM PST by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: MindBender26
Image hosted by Photobucket.com wonderful... that equals 2500 - 2.56oz bombs.
7 posted on 12/19/2005 5:28:21 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Lady Heron
Correct-a-mundo. The use of sophisticated welding technology indicates that these were not kids or meth-addicts. The target of non-detectable explosives is even scarier.
8 posted on 12/19/2005 5:39:45 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (The problem with being a 'big tent' Party is that the clowns are seated with the paying customers.)
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To: mtbopfuyn

Please alert JohnHK. He'll be very concerned that people don't jump to the wrong conclusions. For all we know, this may have been an elderly woman looking for her lost kitty and mistakenly taking what she assumed to be African Violet plant food.


9 posted on 12/19/2005 5:42:03 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (The problem with being a 'big tent' Party is that the clowns are seated with the paying customers.)
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To: MindBender26

It's not a good thing. 'Undetectable' probably refers to the thin sheets and not to the chemical compound, which can certainly be 'sniffed' by detectors, but still it is troubling. Did someone forget to lock their garage out there?


10 posted on 12/19/2005 5:53:35 PM PST by Sender (Team Infidel USA)
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To: MindBender26

Chris Cherry is a genius in the explosive world.....If this is some of his high tech stuff....I'm sure that the material is state of the art HE....

Undetectable, stable and enhanced HE....a very bad combination. Even if this wasn't terrorists but organized crime related, the material soon will be on the market and then possibly in terrorists hands......

Undetectable, 4-5 oz of C-4 could easily bring down an airliner at altitude and over 400lbs are gone? Anyone think the Patriot Act is not necessary??? We are at war....


11 posted on 12/19/2005 6:08:44 PM PST by nevergore (“It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.”)
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To: MindBender26
Ruh Roh


12 posted on 12/19/2005 7:32:00 PM PST by HangnJudge
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To: MindBender26

Wasn't there a previous theft from here?


13 posted on 12/19/2005 7:34:06 PM PST by Burlem
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To: WorkingClassFilth

Just what is a "torch bar" anyway?


14 posted on 12/19/2005 7:45:13 PM PST by Lloyd227 (and may God bless Oriana Fallaci)
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