After the deadly bombings at Brussels airport and metro station rocked the world, Mumbai airport’s security agency CISF apprised its staff of the explosive used in the attack on the Belgian capital
After the deadly bombings at Brussels airport and metro station rocked the world, Mumbai airport’s security agency Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprised its staff of the explosive used in the attack on the Belgian capital.
Also Read: Paris fallout: Security checks at Mumbai airport to take more time
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“Acetone peroxide is an organic peroxide and a primary high explosive also known as Triacetione triperoxide (TAPT). It has historically been more difficult to detect and it has been used in terrorist attacks in Europe in 2016 and earlier. It has been used in the attack in Brussels too,” an excerpt from the circulated message read.
Since terrorists are using TATP frequently, CISF authorities took this step to inform their employees about the explosive.
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“TATP, which is one of the most sensitive explosives known, has appeared as a tool recently, as terrorists have used it in the previous few cases. It is very sensitive to temperature and friction,” said a senior airport official. “Though the message includes general knowledge and history about the explosive, it is crucial for the officials to be completely aware of it,” he added.
Expert speak
Speaking to mid-day, Rukmini Krishnamurthy, former director Maharashtra state forensic science laboratory, said, “The chemical acetone peroxide is most commonly used to refer to the cyclic trimer triacetone triperoxide (TATP; synonymous, tri-cyclic acetone peroxide (TCAP) peroxyacetone), obtained by a reaction between hydrogen peroxide and acetone in an acid-catalyzed nucleophilic addition. It is available in Indian market for laboratory usage. Hydrogen peroxide and acetone are regularly used chemicals in labs.”
Bomb hoaxes
Mumbai airport has been receiving series of bomb hoax calls. “We have received several bomb threats since the Brussels incident and none of them can be taken easily. Security has been beefed up,” said an airport official.
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