Flying Toilet Terror: How Likely Is It Terrorists Can Mix TATP On Plane?

[BurtWorm]

Not very.


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/print.html


We're told that the suspects were planning to use TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, a high explosive that supposedly can be made from common household chemicals unlikely to be caught by airport screeners. A little hair dye, drain cleaner, and paint thinner - all easily concealed in drinks bottles - and the forces of evil have effectively smuggled a deadly bomb onboard your plane. <...>

Making a quantity of TATP sufficient to bring down an airplane is not quite as simple as ducking into the toilet and mixing two harmless liquids together.

First, you've got to get adequately concentrated hydrogen peroxide. This is hard to come by, so a large quantity of the three per cent solution sold in pharmacies might have to be concentrated by boiling off the water. Only this is risky, and can lead to mission failure by means of burning down your makeshift lab before a single infidel has been harmed.

But let's assume that you can obtain it in the required concentration, or cook it from a dilute solution without ruining your operation. Fine. The remaining ingredients, acetone and sulfuric acid, are far easier to obtain, and we can assume that you've got them on hand.

Now for the fun part. Take your hydrogen peroxide, acetone, and sulfuric acid, measure them very carefully, and put them into drinks bottles for convenient smuggling onto a plane. It's all right to mix the peroxide and acetone in one container, so long as it remains cool. Don't forget to bring several frozen gel-packs (preferably in a Styrofoam chiller deceptively marked "perishable foods"), a thermometer, a large beaker, a stirring rod, and a medicine dropper. You're going to need them.

....

[BurtWorm]

1. Did anyone know they're looking for specific liquids?

You can't hide these ingredients in some other liquid.

We're being played with again, folks.

[Avalux]

3. From what I understand -

The ingredients would be in a container, then that container placed inside a gatorade bottle for concealment. At least that's what CNN told me. :crazy: I'm not understanding WHY women have to throw away their lipstick. Stupid.

[BurtWorm]

5. It's a dramatic little touch.

Can't x-rays pick up on concealed compartments inside water bottles?

[Avalux]

6. I'd think so.

All of this is political bullshit. It's not a secret though; we were informed months ago that the strategy for Repugs from now until November is to scare the shit out of us and keep reminding us they have to stay in office to protect us cause Dems are wimps.

I just wish the media wouldn't help them out.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. As I recall, the original media speculation was that two, maybe three

people would conspire & bring the components together. That lavatory would get mighty crowded with muslim terrorists!

And watch who you are calling an infidel!

[BurtWorm]

4. Somehow it got communicated that these ingredients could be inside

other liquids--like, hidden inside Perrier.

If they know what specific liquids they're looking for, then what is with the big "NO LIQUIDS AT ALL" production if not just to spread state terror among air passengers?

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. There is no logic to applying logic to this thing.

This whole thing was an exercise in mass hysteria, encouraged by our government.

[Avalux]

8. Don't forget the media!

They are more than happy to jump the gun and report whatever the government tells them to, regardless of truth or facts.

[BurtWorm]

9. kick