Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - New Threat Invented: Alert warns of cold packs used for explosives

From the WTOP Fear-mongering Desk:

Alert warns of cold packs used for explosives (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=1000&sid=2389161).

The packs contain chemicals -- usually 30 to 85 grams of ammonium nitrate or urea -- that can be used as precursors for improvised explosives. The advisory says the chemicals, which are packaged in granular form, can be used directly or ground into powder when being used in homemade explosive production. Five hundred packs would yield 30 to 90 pounds of material for use in an improvised explosive device (IED).

Standby for more fun at airports, especially if you are a nursing mother or a diabetic.

So, basically, if anyone shows up for a flight with 500 cold packs, the TSA will let them right through. But if you show up with one, resolution patdown including cavity search. Sounds about right.

So, basically, if anyone shows up for a flight with 500 cold packs, the TSA will let them right through. But if you show up with one, resolution patdown including cavity search. Sounds about right.

Time for the terrorists to go back to insulated mugs.

While the alert is true (in that AN (Ammonium Nitrate) is used in explosives) it's not quite that simple. It's not as if a wannabe/terrorist can just stop by their local pharmacy and buy a couple dozen (even 500) instant ice packs and then go and blow up a jet or anything else. AN is a key component in ANFO, an explosive, but it's only an oxidizer and also requires a fuel oil (usually diesel), emulsion and some kind of detonator(s)/boosters.

Ammonium nitrate is used in farming (it's also a fertilizer) and in various remote areas where mining, civil works, etc are conducted. So, I'd say that it would be much easier to get large quantities of AN from one of those sources than it would from buying and consolidating 500 instant cool packs.