Searching for the X-Factor
and organisations have been slightly TATP is easy to detonate only in solid “...TATP, HMTD and
more forthcoming but all are limited in form. This is to do with the type
what they can say by their obligations of explosive they are. They are so their relatives are
– both real and perceived - to the called ‘entropic explosives’ where the
security authorities. Peter Kant of energy is derived from the snapping unlikely to be used in
Rapiscan Systems in the US is one of molecular bonds as the compound
such who, while picking his words suddenly moves from one energy level gel or liquid form...”
with great care, did say that the focus to another. As the bonds break large
is on liquid, aerosol or gel based amounts of energy are released (TATP properties of hydrogen peroxide were
compounds, particularly those that are is approximately 80% as powerful as explored in great detail by Wernher
small enough to be carried on board TNT) and acetone and ozone molecules von Braun and the other German rocket
aircraft but which are powerful enough are released. There is no doubting their scientists during the Second World War.
to do significant damage. effectiveness however; HMTD has been Hydrogen peroxide, known as ‘T-Stoff’,
Others are less convinced by the implicated in the explosions caused by was used by Germans, together with
threat. Norman Shanks, a private the 7/7 London bombers which left fuels such as methanol and hydrazine,
security consultant and former head fifty-six people dead. to power their experimental jet fighters
of security at BAA says that he is Conventional explosives contain as well as the pumps on the V2 rockets.
somewhat sceptical about focusing nitro groups and these are relatively In the aftermath of the war, Britain
on the threat from liquid explosives easy, especially in solid-state, to used this information to form the basis
only and ignoring the longer term detect because existing scanning of the rocket fuel used in the UK’s
problem of plastic explosives; he feels equipment has been configured for Black Knight and Black Arrow missile
that there has been a tremendous their recognition. In contrast peroxide- programmes. High Test Peroxide, as
overreaction from day one. He also based explosives do not contain nitro it is called, is about twenty times as
points out that aircraft are much groups making them much harder to strong as conventional salon-strength
sturdier than commonly perceived by detect. Therein lies at least part of their peroxide and when mixed with kerosene
the general public and is sceptical appeal to terrorists. But the central provided a fuel powerful enough
that a detonation made by a liquid fact remains that TATP, HMTD and their to boost Britain’s Prospero satellite
explosive device that is small enough relatives are unlikely to be used in gel into orbit aboard the R3 rocket. So
to be smuggled on board would be or liquid form. virulent is HTP that technicians on the
powerful enough to bring down the But effective explosives can also be project worked in twos – one holding
aircraft. He points to the example of created by mixing fuel substances with a running hose because any spillages
Aloha Airlines flight 243 where the the simple hydrogen peroxide from onto clothing, even in tiny amounts,
roof of the first class cabin was ripped which the organic peroxide compounds would spontaneously ignite.
off at 24,000 feet due to metal fatigue mentioned above are derived. Hydrogen In recent years Sidney Alford,
and the aircraft still managed to land peroxide is a powerful oxidiser – it founder of Alford Technologies, has
safely with only one fatality. promotes the rapid combustion of demonstrated the detonation of
We are left then with a sense of another substance. The oxidative peroxide-based liquid explosives in a
confusion. Some in the industry say
there is a threat, others say there is
not. The ones who say that there is are
reluctant to be specific.
The press has repeatedly identified
the threat as stemming from peroxide-
based devices and has often left
the impression that the explosive in
question is the compound triacetone
triperoxide (TATP) known in the
Universal Terrorist’s Handbook from
High Wycombe to Hyderabad as the
‘Mother of Satan’ because of its tiresome
habit of depriving those attempting to
synthesise it of their fingers!
Peroxide-based explosives are not
new. TATP was (as reported in the
October issue of this journal) first
synthesised by Richard Wolffenstein
in 1895. Like its cousin HMTD Optosecurity are offering a software upgrade that can be added to existing X-ray machines that will
(hexamethylene triperoxide diamine), identify liquids within bottles
December 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational www.asi-mag.com 29
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