Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Ed Yeates ReportingAn explosive researcher at the University of Utah says, unfortunately, it's very easy to make liquid explosives these days. That's why containers that can hold them are now off limits at airports.
Unlike solid fuels, liquid fuels are easier to disguise. In toothpaste and sports drinks containers, inside carry on luggage, they can escape detection. That's what Dr. Charles Wight says. He heads up the University of Utah Center for the Simulation of Fires and Explosives.
Researchers here and around around the country model different kinds of explosives in containers and bombs to see exactly what they do. While the so-called shoe-bomber had about 100 grams of a common solid explosive in his shoe , Wight says it most likely would have only punched a small hole in the plane - not enough to bring it down. Instruments at airports also can now detect fumes given off by his choice of an explosive. But this latest plot would have pirated LIQUID explosives inside everyday airtight containers -- perhaps escaping detection.
Dr. Charles Wight, U of U Center for Simulation of Fires and Explosives: "If you have something that looks like, on the x-ray, like water or soda pop or something like that, it should go directly through."
Once on board, terrorists could collect the fuels from various containers into one, increasing the potency. Half a liter would be enough to do substantial damage.
Dr. Wight: "It won't be as powerful as solid explosives because they're not as dense, but they'll make a mess."
Dr. Wight says, since you can make a variety of liquid explosives by mixing any liquid fuel with specific inorganic salts, on board, in the hands of terrorists....
Dr. Wight: "Before it's mixed, then each of the materials itself would not be explosive, but when mixed together, it would form a liquid explosive."
Even so, Dr. Wight says it's doubtful the amount of liquid explosives we're talking about could bring a plane down.
