Posted on 04/04/2008 10:42:37 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The trial of eight British men accused of plotting to blow up seven airliners using liquid explosives began yesterday at Woolwich Crown Court, where prosecutor Peter Wright QC laid out details of their alleged plan. Using a home made liquid explosive mixture concealed in soft drinks containers the accused intended to set off the explosions when all the aircraft were at high altitude, he said, causing thousands of casualties.
The prosecution claimed that the explosive was planned to consist of hydrogen peroxide mixed with a powdered version of the fruit drink Tang. The addition of Tang, "which is an energetic compound", would aid detonation, said Wright. He claimed that the mixture was intended to be dyed to match the colour of a soft drink, then substituted for the contents of 500ml bottles of Lucozade and Oasis. The original contents of these would be extracted without breaking the seal by means of a syringe, and the resulting hole in the base of the bottle sealed with superglue.
The jury was told that the bombs were to have been detonated using hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), an explosive compound prepared using hydrogen peroxide and hexamine. This mix would be concealed in hollowed out batteries, and put together with the liquid explosives and a power source, possibly a disposable camera, once the flight was airborne.
A diary which Wright said was found on one of the accused gave details of the planning. "Mouthwash, blue, red. Calculate exact drops of Tang, plus colour. Make in HP." And: "Lucozade, red, 1.5 drops, one teaspoon Tang, one teaspoon orange, 12 drops. Oasis, red. On, red dye. Orange, two times mango."
The men were arrested in August 2006 leading to a worldwide clamp-down on liquids in carry-on baggage, with the ban initially extending even to jam sandwiches, and leading to debates over the relative explosive capabilities of hard and soft cheeses.
Hydrogen peroxide is readily available in dilute form, which can with some effort be converted to a more concentrated form viable in explosive mixtures. Tang, meanwhile, is available in liquid and powdered form, and is a fruit drink made by Kraft.
The trial continues, and is expected to last six to eight months. ®
Homemade thermite?
Poon Tang’s available in the produce department. Try checking the melons section. Remember, you want them firm, but somewhat giving to the touch, with a light fragerance. Don’t pull a “Mr. Whipple” or you might be escorted from the store.
I suggest wearing sunglasses when lighting.
Sure is although the ignition is not what one would assume :)
Sound advice.
I learned how to make several kinds of bombs that could take out an airliner, but that was starting as young as middle school about 30 years ago.
Bombs are basic natural truths of chemistry. Fight Club wasn't a joke, if you know how to make soap (something most women learned way back when) it's only a couple (rather dangerous) steps more to make nitroglycerin. The only way to keep bomb making out of the hands of the people is to keep them stupid.
“Here honey, hold muh beer. I’m gonna go out to the garage and see if’n this really works.” ;-)
A pity that England no longer has the stomach to draw and quarter scum like this.
Uh, trip him?
“Thanks to it (the article), I and any high school kid now knows how to make a bomb that will down an airliner.”
Oh, come on now.
Using the article, procure the items listed, and mix them as stated.
Most likely, you will get a fizzy mess to clean up off the floor.
Ones that we learned ‘as children’.
It’s part of growing up. If you grew up, it’s because you learned to be careful with household chemicals after seeing what they could do.
Oh, for the day’s of an acetylene filled balloon in shop class.
BTW. Here’s the recipe from the article.
Maybe today’s ‘high school kids’ are much smarter than us old fogeys, and can figure the recipe out and clue us in.
Uh, I was gonna say don’t ask him for a drink, but tripping him and screaming “terrorist” real loud might work better.
Cereally (a true word. Combines Cerebral and Serious into one convenient word), the most important part of the story is being missed.
In our recent past, the MSM came out with news about a new ‘infraction’ on our rights by that huge symbol of evil, (President Bush).
Poor airline customers were having their drinks and batteries taken away.
IIRC, there was plenty of outrage over the seemingly odd mix of things like fruit drinks, and flashlight batteries.
Comments were things like, “don’t these TSA workers have anything better to do?”.
NOW we know the rest of the story.
But, I wonder, how many even remember?
“Sure is although the ignition is not what one would assume”
Camera Flash causes catalytic reaction after the powder and liquid are mixed?
Oh, I do, because I happened to be flying the same day that this threat was announced, back in 2006. TSA took my mascara, of all things! I'm glad they're now allowing folks to buy food and drinks within the secure area to take on planes.
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