Law enforcement worked with explosives to educate state and local law enforcement on the ease to which incendiary Watch video
EDISON -- It's no secret the ease to which explosives can be made using everyday, readily available chemicals and compounds that can either be purchased over the counter or on the Internet.
This presents a challenge to law enforcement seeking to disrupt terrorist or homegrown attacks.
The disruption of potential terrorist or homegrown plots doesn't merely rely on various law enforcement agencies working together. The private sector -- like chemical manufacturers -- plays a vital role in helping law enforcement intercept potential attacks.
The Newark Division of the FBI held an improvised explosives training demonstration on Tuesday at Thomas Edison Park, in Edison, to educate state and local law enforcement, first responders as well as private industries about explosives, the ease to which they can be made, and how to recognize anything that might be deemed suspicious.
The training session was led by FBI Special Agent Chris White, a bomb technician at the agency's Newark Division.
White spent the afternoon Tuesday demonstrating how everyday, household products can be used to make simple, yet extremely powerful explosive devices.
He used common chemicals like brake fluid and nitro methane, a highly explosive compound regularly used as racing fuel. Something as ordinary as a bag of sugar was also among the items on the demonstration table.
FBI agents were stationed at various areas, and on White's countdown, they set off the explosives.
The devices -- which were small and concealed in ordinary receptacles like a pineapple -- let off huge, booming explosions that set off faraway car alarms and hurt eardrums.
The incendiary devices used in the recent attack in Brussels as well as those used in last year's attack in Paris and in the 2005 London bombings all included household products like hydrogen peroxide.
FBI Special Agent Scott R. Nawrocki, a WMD coordinator who works in the agency's Newark division, said at the demonstration that the ultimate goal is to stop plots at the acquisition phase, when the plotter is attempting to purchase or obtain the raw materials needed for an explosive devices.
"Our goal is to target at the acquisition phase when the terrorist or lone offender is acquiring the precursor raw materials" whether on the Internet or at industrial chemical manufacturing plants, Nawrocki said.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.