Determining the extent to which sources of aluminum (Al) powders, often used as fuel in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), can be differentiated is important for forensic investigations and gathering intelligence.
Previous work developed effective methods of characterizing Al powders using micromorphometric features of the Al particles and a multistage sampling approach. Since then, ~100 additional samples from Al powder sources representing five powder types used in IEDs and 33 product distributors have been added to the dataset. Using this large dataset, a study confirmed that 200 randomly selected fields of view (FOV) are needed to accurately characterize the powder.
Read more…
Source: Wiley Online Library
Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter
Related:
- London and Glasgow parcel bombs linked to devices sent to army centres
May 29, 2019
A series of parcel bombs sent to locations in London and Glasgow earlier this year have been connected to devices targeting army offices in 2014. Anti-terror investigators have said they are now “formally linking” the incendiary devices posted in March and explosives sent to military recruitment centres five years ago. A main line of inquiry is that the latest packages ...
- Inside factory where Sri Lanka jihadists made ‘Mother of Satan’ explosive used in the attacks
April 23, 2019
The bombs are thought to have been made in a copper factory in Wellampitiya, a suburb of Colombo It was owned by businessman and father-of-four Inshaf Ahamad, who blew himself up at a hotel on Sunday Police raided the copper factory last night and took nine suspects – including the manager – into custody At least 290 people ...
- Belfast man linked by fingerprint to explosives find 10 years ago avoids going to prison
April 13, 2019
A senior PSNI officer has welcomed the conviction of a north Belfast father-of-five who has been handed a suspended sentence after his fingerprint was found on a blast bomb device almost decade ago. John Paul Magee (39), from Ardoyne, had pleaded guilty to the offences in February. Yesterday he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, suspended ...
- Bomb components in restaurant blast same as those in twin bombings in Isulan last year — police
April 5, 2019
The components of the improvised explosive device (IED) used in the bombing of a chicken restaurant in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last Wednesday has turned out to be similar to those used in the twin bombings in the same town last year, police said Friday. This was revealed by P/Brig. Gen. Eliseo Tam Rasco, regional director of ...
- Kenya: DCI strikes agreement with two European countries in fight against terrorism
February 6, 2019
The DCI on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on acquiring new equipment to be used to fight terrorism. The unit, is set to get crime scene investigations kits that will be used during anti-terror operations. DCI boss George Kinoti noted that the deal will help enhance security in the ...
- Probe reveals use of IED in blast in Karachi: BDS officials
December 10, 2018
Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) officials on Sunday said that Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used in yesterday’s blast at ‘Mehfil-e-Milad’ event held near Gulistan-e-Johar in Karachi. The BDS officials visited the bomb site and revealed that the a low intensity improvise explosive device (IED) was exploded in the ‘Mehfil-e-Milad’ event. Around 250 to 300 grams of explosive ...
- Terror probe after two improvised explosive devices found in London flat
November 21, 2018
Police have opened a counter-terror investigation after two improvised explosive devices were discovered in a northwest London flat. Officers were called to the unoccupied address in Harlesden, which was in the process of being refurbished, on Wednesday morning. As a precaution, the block of flats was evacuated and nearby roads were cordoned off while specialist officers assessed ...
- Indra signs contract to supply a deployable forensic laboratory capability to Australia
October 9, 2018
It will facilitate the rapid collection, analysis and documentation of evidence from any Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Over 90% of the contract will be executed by Australian equipment manufacturers and distributors Indra operates from offices in Sydney and Newcastle focussed on the defence and transport technology sector. Navigation aid systems produced in Australia are exported worldwide. Sydney, October ...
- Inside the FBI’s secret bomb lab
September 12, 2018
In a highly classified lab, protected by many layers of security within the sprawling Redstone Arsenal Army post southwest of Huntsville, the FBI’s chief explosive scientist is surrounded by powerful reminders of the ever-evolving threat posed by terrorist bomb makers plotting the next 9/11. The 2001 shoe bomb worn by Al Qaeda terrorist Richard Reid. The 2010 ...
- Augmenting the AOR: EOD Airman provides critical skillset to Army forensics team
July 23, 2018
This story is part of the JET/IA “Augmenting the AOR” series, covering the unique missions and skill sets Airmen provide to coalition and sister-service mission partners throughout the deployed area of responsibility. Visiting the Central Command Forensic Exploitation Laboratory, located at Camp Arifjan, is an experience similar to watching a television show like ‘CSI’ or ‘NCIS,’ ...
- Homemade explosives used in Mississauga restaurant appeared to contain nails
May 29, 2018
A homemade bomb detonated in a Mississauga restaurant last week appeared to contain nails and other household items, police said Tuesday, revealing more details on their investigation into an explosion that injured 15 people. The search for two suspects continues, and one of them may be a woman, Peel police said at a morning news conference, ...
- Bombs in the Austin attacks were constructed of readily available materials, officials say
March 16, 2018
The person who is making explosive devices and has left them at three Austin doorsteps is constructing them using common household items that can be easily purchased at hardware stores, potentially making efforts to identify the perpetrator more difficult, law enforcement officials said Thursday. Authorities are trying to identify all the materials used to make the ...
- Cat hair leads to identity of woman who allegedly mailed explosive devices to President Obama, Texas Gov. Abbott
November 23, 2017
A Houston area woman who was angry with the government mailed explosive devices to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, former President Barack Obama and the Social Security Administration in Maryland, according to documents from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Abbott opened the dangerous package himself, but it failed to detonate, and ...
- Accused Chelsea bomber’s fingerprints are all over explosives: expert
October 10, 2017
A whopping 44 out of 50 fingerprints found on explosive devices and other evidence from last year’s bombings in NY and NJ are linked to Ahmad Rahimi, an FBI fingerprint expert told a Manhattan federal jury Tuesday. FBI forensic analyst D.J. Fife said he found Rahimi’s finger prints on cell phones, parts of pressure-cooker bombs and ...
- Thirty years of DNA forensics: How DNA has revolutionized criminal investigations
September 18, 2017
The name Colin Pitchfork might not be as recognizable as Charles Manson or Jeffrey Dahmer. But for those in the forensic science community, it’s a name that holds weight. Pitchfork was the first murderer to be caught using DNA analysis. When 15-year-old Dawn Ashworth was raped and murdered in Leicestershire, England, in late July 1986, Alec ...
- US, Pakistan service members share post-blast analysis information
August 8, 2017
Supporting one of U.S. Army Central’s commanding general’s priorities, explosive ordnance disposal experts from the 20th Fighter Wing, Pakistan army and USARCENT met to exchange information on Shaw Air Force Base July 25-26. The EOD theater security cooperation exchange focused on post-blast analysis and contributed to the overall goal of these exchanges, which is to improve ...
- Laser Ablation-Vacuum Capture System Can Identify Trace Substances in Fingerprints
August 4, 2017
Using IR laser ablation coupled with vacuum capture, a system of fingermark sampling has been developed that could be used for traditional fingerprint analysis and also to capture, filter and analyze biomolecules and trace substances such as DNA or explosives. Laser ablation at three micrometer (µm) was performed in reflection mode with subsequent capture of the ...
- How Police Trace Cellphones in IEDs Like the Ones in NYC
September 19, 2016
A cellphone makes a convenient detonator for an improvised explosive device. But it’s also one of the most conveniently trackable devices under the eye of American law enforcement. Less than 48 hours after a bomb exploded in a dumpster on a streetcorner in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York—and another device a few blocks away failed ...