Reid (shoe bomber) used Web top buy explosives
December 28, 2001 6:05 AM   Subscribe

Reid (shoe bomber) used Web top buy explosives Or so he has claimed. Who said the Web does not have its important uses? Should such purchases be allowed" Is there now a need for disallowing some items on the Net?
posted by Postroad (18 comments total)
 
The story's lead mentions the Internet, but the Internet and the web are never mentioned again. Terrible journalism, but that's what you expect from the Brits.
posted by Holden at 6:44 AM on December 28, 2001


At least no one has started to call him "The Shoe-Na-Bomber" yet... Thanks so much! Please tip your server!
posted by machaus at 6:54 AM on December 28, 2001


(taken from a post in alt.pyrotechnics)

Triacetone Triperoxide:

O-C(CH3)2-O
| |
O O
| |
(CH3)2C - O-O - C(CH3)2

"Trimeric acetone peroxide exploded violently on heating, impact or friction.
It is highly brisant and very sensitive. It may be detonated under or water
or when it contains up to 25% water."

Flame sensitivity - burns violently and sometimes detonates.
Heat sensitivity - depends on temperature. It either vaporizes without
decomposition, decomposes without flame, burned with a smoky flame or
detonated.
Brisance - 34.1g sand crushed.
Detonation velocity - 5290 m/sec in 6.3mm column with density of 1.2.
3065 m/sec in 15 mm column with density of 0.68 and 5300 m/sec with
density of 1.18.
Friction sensitivity - extreme
Impact sensitivity - 500g weight, 10 cm (in other words - extremely). The
references state that it is one of the most sensitive explosives known.
Power - by Trauzl Test - 10g gave 250 cc expansion vs 285 cc for TNT.

Due to its high volatility and sensitivity, it is deemed unuseable.

Both compounds sublime, even at room temperature.

Information abstracted from Fedoroff and others, PATR 2700, Vol 1
pages A41R - A44R, 1960.

The compounds are listed in Beil and Sax, among many others.
posted by BlitzK at 7:00 AM on December 28, 2001


At least no one has started to call him "The Shoe-Na-Bomber" yet... Thanks so much! Please tip your server!

Thank you machaus, that was beautiful.
posted by insomnyuk at 7:01 AM on December 28, 2001


Earlier the father of the "shoe bomber", Robin Reid, who lives in south London, said his son must have been "brainwashed". Mr Reid senior, a former criminal who has spent 18 years in jail and who was in prison when his son was born, said: "He's not a bad lad. I can't imagine him doing anything like this without him being involved with someone else."

Denial isnt just a river in egypt.
posted by outsider at 7:04 AM on December 28, 2001


If it is a fact that the internet was used for purchase, that means nothing significant. The internet isn't a new world, its the same world with a different face. Sure, it's easier to find and purchase things with the internet, but ,(almost) everything available online is available offline as well.

There are lots of interesting things that can be said about this story. But bringing up the internet as some boogeyman isn't one of them.
posted by yesster at 7:21 AM on December 28, 2001


Is there now a need for disallowing some items on the Net?

You can buy it from other sources as well. Where you buy it is less of a problem than the fact it is for sale, if it can be bought, why not on the internet, seems stupid to ban things on the internet when its available round the corner, and amsterdam is around the corner for a brit. If you want to stop the sale of questionable items, I don't think the internet is the place to start, the manufacturer on the other hand...hmmm
posted by bittennails at 7:21 AM on December 28, 2001


Triacetone Triperoxide:

O-C(CH3)2-O
| |
O O
| |
(CH3)2C - O-O - C(CH3)2





I love metafilter.
posted by jpoulos at 8:15 AM on December 28, 2001


This site says it's products are "Very strictly controlled." The fact that C4 is sold on the internet speaks volumes. I'm not blaming the internet, I'm just a little shocked.
posted by Greener at 9:15 AM on December 28, 2001


Greener, it is NOT C4, its an entirely different explosive.
One which can be made from household chemicals (or nearly household)... here:
A mixture of 5 ml of acetone and 10 ml of 6 percent hydrogen peroxide was
cooled to 5 centigrades and treated dropwise with 3 ml of concentrated
sulfuric acid. The white precipitate that formed was extracted with ether,
and the extract was washed three times with cold water. The ether was
evaporated by a stream

posted by malphigian at 10:12 AM on December 28, 2001


Er, hit post to early, there are plenty of recipes for this available ... all of which have responses from explosives experts talking about the great risk of blowing yourself up or choking on poison gas.
posted by malphigian at 10:14 AM on December 28, 2001


Yes, I know it wasn't C4...I was just commenting on on the sale of questionable items on the internet. There are quite a few instructional type sites, I was pointing out a site that straight-up sold C4.
posted by Greener at 10:42 AM on December 28, 2001


Yes, I know it wasn't C4...I was just commenting on on the sale of questionable items on the internet. There are quite a few instructional type sites, I was pointing out a site that straight-up sold C4.
posted by Greener at 10:42 AM on December 28, 2001


opps
posted by Greener at 10:42 AM on December 28, 2001


Look at all the cool things this place has! Too bad they're all sold out.
posted by geoff. at 11:00 AM on December 28, 2001


Terrible journalism, but that's what you expect from the Brits.

Now there's a rational, unbiased, level-headed remark intended to foster productive discussion....
posted by rushmc at 11:40 AM on December 28, 2001


And another think about those fucking Brits...
posted by solistrato at 11:45 AM on December 28, 2001


"My son must have been brainwashed": Usama binLadens mother.
If the lad is a Brit you must acquit.
posted by Mack Twain at 12:26 PM on December 28, 2001


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