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5-2 Identify components, materials, and packaging that can be used to make an
improvised explosive device (IED).
5-3 Recognize dry ice bombs and hypergolic device acid bombs.
Resources
• IRTB Course Handouts, including course evaluation forms, pre-test forms,
registration forms, self-evaluation forms, and travel reimbursement forms (one
per participant).
• Pencil or pen, protective glasses, badge, and nameplate (one per participant).
• Flash drive containing Participant Guide, Video Library, Case Study Library, and
Additional Resources (one per participant).
• Digital projectors, flip-chart, and whiteboard.
• Slides and video clips.
Instructor to Participant Ratio
Conference (Classroom–2:50; Range–3:50).
Reference List
See Appendices.
ICON MAP
Question: Used when there is an opportunity to ask a question or start a class
discussion.
First Responder Safety: Used to highlight information that relates directly to the
personal safety of first responders.
MODULE INTRODUCTION
5-3 Recognize dry ice bombs and hypergolic device acid bombs.
This slide lists some reasons that IEDs are attractive weapons for
use by terrorists.
ELO 5-1
Identify the six components of an improvised explosive device
(IED) using the acronym SIMPCE.
IEDs have six basic components, which can be recalled using the
acronym SIMPCE: S for switch, I for initiator, M for main charge, P
for power supply, C for container, and E for enhancements. Being
aware of these six components will assist first responders in
identifying suspicious activity that may involve one or more of the
components.
Switch
A switch can be mechanical or electrical, and causes a mechanical
action or completes an electric circuit to initiate the IED. Switches
generally perform the function of safely arming the device or
detonating it.
Initiator
Most explosives are sensitive to shock, therefore it is necessary to
have a component that can provide the additional energy required
to start a chain reaction with explosives, causing it to burn or
detonate. The most common types of initiators are squibs and
blasting caps. Effective improvised initiators are Christmas tree
lights. Christmas tree lights were possibly used by the Boston
Main Charge
An IED must contain explosives. Recall from previous
presentations, that there are two types of explosives: high
explosives, or explosives that chemically decompose (detonate) at
a speed greater than 3300 fps, and low explosives, or explosives
that burn (deflagrate) at a speed lower than 3300 fps. The
explosive is the component of the IED that causes most of the
damage. When initiated, the explosive undergoes a rapid
decomposition, releasing great quantities of gas and thermal
energy. All other components in the IED package serve to activate
the explosive or act as fragmentation or shrapnel.
Power Supply
Most IEDs contain an electric initiator and, as such, require an
electric power source. Batteries that can supply the needed power
come in many shapes and sizes. Most commercially available
batteries can reliably furnish power to an initiator. As an alternative,
mechanical action, such as a spring under pressure, can store
sufficient energy to cause the function of a non-electric initiator.
Container
Most IEDs / suicide bomber improvised explosive devices (SBIEDs)
will be constructed to fit into some type of container that may be
used to conceal, carry, and transport the device. A container can be
anything imaginable that will support the design and weight of the
device.
Enhancements
Enhancements are any added materials that are meant to increase
the lethality or damage caused by the detonation of the main
charge. Common additions include shrapnel and fuels.
______________________________
Lee, T. (2013, April 26). Report: Suspected bombers followed al Qaeda bomb designs. Breitbart. Retrieved
from http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2013/04/26/report-suspected-bombers-followed-al-qaeda-
bomb-designs/
ELO 5-2
Identify components, materials, and packaging that can be
used to make an improvised explosive device (IED).
In theory, any switch that can turn something on or off can be used
to activate a device. Only the resources, skills, and imagination of
the bomber limit the methods used and the complexity of the
device. As sophistication increases in switch design, expect
sophistication in bomb-fusing design to increase as well. Electronic
circuits are now replacing mechanical devices typically found in
IEDs in the past.
Almost all IEDs have some form of a switch system to initiate the
explosion. Common switch systems include:
This slide shows one photo and two graphics of pressure and
pressure-release switches: (1) mousetrap switch, (2) buried, heavy-
weight pressure switch, (3) smaller spring-loaded pressure
switch, and (4) a pull-release switch.
In the electronic greeting card circuit above, the round object on the
lower right of the graphic is the speaker. This would be removed
and a blasting cap wired in, in order to use it as an initiator in an
IED.
Black powder was used as the first blast material before high
explosives were invented. The use of a low explosive material as a
blasting agent requires that containment and pressure be
maintained around the powder during initiation. One common
commercial product is cannon or hobby fuse. Its center core is
made from black powder.
• Furniture
• Cigarette boxes
• Rubber hoses
• CO2 gas cartridges
• Fire extinguishers
• Flashlights
• Bottles and jars
• Automobiles, trucks, tankers, buses
• Electric and electronic appliances
• Fruit baskets, gifts, wrapped packages
• Plaster figures
• Shell casings and cartridges
• Butane, gasoline, propane tanks
In the past few years, bomb squads across the country have
responded to similar calls of pipe bombs placed in trashcans.
These bombs are planted for a variety of reasons, but it seems
likely that one common motive is a desire to harm first responders.
1
Page, C. (2011, Oct 20). Pipe Bomb: Pipe Bomb Damages Trash Container at Pioneer Park. Billings Gazette.
Retrieved from: http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/pipe-bomb-damages-trash-container-at-pioneer-
park/article_6ab75f08-fb3e-11e0-8b62-001cc4c03286.html
This slide shows photos of a full size sedan and a sports car.
This slide shows that a full size truck can carry 4,800 lbs. of
Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil (ANFO), the same amount that
Timothy McVeigh used in Oklahoma City.
This slide contains information about dry ice bombs and acid
bombs.
ELO 5-3
Recognize dry ice bombs and hypergolic device acid bombs.
Placing dry ice in a plastic soda bottle that contains water produces
the dry ice bomb. The reaction produces carbon dioxide that, once
the bottle is sealed, begins to pressurize the bottle. As the pressure
builds in the bottle it may explode. Plastic soda bottles will generally
fail at 100 to 110 psi. A potential situation that a first responder
might encounter is when a dry ice bomb has not exploded due to
The acid bomb works on the same principal as the dry ice bomb,
but instead uses the chemical reaction of acid and aluminum to
produce gas to pressurize the container. If hydrochloric acid is
used, the byproduct is hydrogen gas. Caution should be exercised
because of the caustic properties of the acid and the potential fire
hazard of the hydrogen gas.
Later testing found that the Boeing 747 airplane could probably
have survived the explosion even if Abdulmutallab’s device had
worked as intended. A video of the test can be seen at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8548021.stm.
SUMMARY
PERFORMANCE EXERCISE
Slide 5-35
This slide shows some of the ways that pipe bombs might appear in
the real world. They do not always have end caps and often look
like something totally different than a conventional pipe bomb. The
constant is that they are equally as deadly. The bombs on the
bottom are commonly known as “crickets” and are constructed from
used CO2 cartridges.
Slide 5-36
This slide shows a large roll of detonating cord. This is about the
same size and color as an electrical extension cord, the only thing
that it does not have is the plug.
Slide 5-37
Slide 5-38
Slide 5-39
Slide 5-40
This slide shows what a first responder might find in the area of an
old mine, or a location where blasting has been done.
Slide 5-41
Slide 5-42
This slide shows the end wires on an electric blasting cap. First
responders might not always see the entire cap. This is a view of
just the shunted end of the electric cap.
Slide 5-43
Slide 5-44
Slide 5-45
This slide shows two conventional pipe bombs and one that utilizes
internal end caps. Both designs make effective IEDs.
Slide 5-46
This slide shows what a first responder might find if someone was
reloading demilled MK-2 hand grenades. The far right photo shows
a threaded plug inserted into the demilled hole.
Slide 5-47
This slide shows a picture of a military time fuse. The feature that
makes this identification possible is the yellow hash/measuring
marks every 18 inches.
Slide 5-48
This slide is another indicator that IEDs are being produced. This
mousetrap switch could either fire the device or just arm it. It would
depend on how the bomber designed the IED.
Slide 5-49
This slide shows a simple wire loop (pull) switch. The switch is a
relatively simple switch, but very effective.
Slide 5-50
Slide 5-51
Slide 5-52
Slide 5-53
Slide 5-54
This slide shows a commercial blasting cap with the paper wrapper
around the leads and the cap, another potential view of a blasting
cap.
Slide 5-55
Slide 5-56
Slide 5-57
Slide 5-58
This slide shows the three components used to make methyl ethyl
ketone peroxide (MEKP). All are legal to purchase, and only
someone who knows the potential use of the three together would
understand the danger. The most obvious red flag is the peroxide.
Slide 5-59
This slide shows a pile of model rocket igniters. They are placed in
the flash hole of the model rocket engine, and the ends are
attached to lead wires that are in turn attached to a power source.
Upon the application of energy, the igniter flashes, starting the
engine.
Slide 5-60
Slide 5-61
The photo in the top right corner shows how it might be reloaded
using a piece of hobby fuse. The fuses are also reloaded by
inserting a new 209-shotgun primer below the firing pin. This
method of reloading does not provide any delay, and the grenade
detonates once the firing pin strikes the primer. This type of non-
delay grenade could be attached to a trip wire to be activated by
the targeted individual.
Slide 5-62
Slide 5-63
Slide 5-64