Originally Posted by
FredAnderssen
In this age of Prism (government spying) and the ability for law enforcement to easily track IP addresses of those posting on forums such as these, I wouldn't dare even link an example of creating explosives from liquids.
But I will say, as a chemical engineer myself, that there are certain liquids readily available in any laboratory setting (including university laboratories), that when mixed have a very low activation energy. The result is predictable. This is self evident to anyone here who has ever worked in a lab.*
There is also a certain powder we had at our lab that when mixed with a common liquid found in every laboratory, would produce enough deadly something-or-other to wipe out an entire plane load of passengers.
Sorry to be so oblique. If you wish to continue to believe that it isn't possible, rest assured that I won't try to correct you from this point on.
*edited to add: I re-read your earlier post and noticed that you said something to the effect that it couldn't be done in a non-laboratory setting. This is false. Let me just say that a small bucket of ice (easily found on an airplane), will certainly grant you the laboratory-like conditions necessary for my first example.
I wasn't asking for a tutorial, I was asking for an incident. An example of where someone has done it, or even tried it.
I have no doubt that those engaged in chemical research, and those studying chemistry at various institutions of higher learning, have both access to the chemicals and knowledge to create liquid explosives.
However, how many of those folks are radical terrorists? How many radicals with the knowledge have access to the various components? How many of those components can be stolen from said laboratories in quantities large enough to bring down a plane? How many of those components are harmless or non-volatile enough prior to mixing to be transported in carry-on luggage disguised as water, or milk, or Pepsi, or a gel shoe insert, without poisoning the would-be bomber, rendering him unconsious from fumes, or blowing him to Chunky tomato soup on the cab ride to the airport?
Sure, it's possible. But is it easy? Is it easy enough for, say, a first year chem student to obtain the components and lab equipment, smuggle those components and lab equipment through a checkpoint disguised as a bottle of water (assuming the liquids restrictions were abolished), and mix them into a potent high-energy explosive in a terminal toilet stall or airplane lav?
Nothing is impossible, but the liklihood of something like that happening is pretty much nil. If it wasn't... somebody would have tried it by now.
We keep focusing on Rube Goldberg terrorist
possibilities when what we really ought to be focused on is the gaping holes in aviation security represented by A) unscreened cargo, 2) unscreened and poorly vetted airport workers, and D) unbelievably poorly trained and never screened TSA employees.*
*Yes, I know I went A, 2, D. It's a movie reference.