On February 24, 2022, an instruction booklet entitled “Easy Explosives -8- TATP Preparation” was published on the Telegram channel of the Al-Saqri Foundation For Military Sciences. An in-depth study of this booklet revealed the instructions detailed within refer to the production of an improvised TATP explosive, using solid sodium percarbonate to produce hydrogen peroxide and as a substitute for liquid hydrogen peroxide, which is a key component in TATP preparation.
TATP has been increasingly used by jihadist terrorist organizations since the 1980s. In an effort to impede the production of TATP by terrorist organizations, many countries closely monitor purchases of hydrogen peroxide, a key and necessary component in the production process, mainly in concentrations of over 30%.
The use of sodium percarbonate to produce hydrogen peroxide and as a substitute for liquid hydrogen peroxide (under supervision) has been known for several years, but this is the first time we have seen the distribution of production guidelines by the Al-Saqri Foundation for Military Sciences, which just recently disseminated guidelines for the manufacture of an improvised plastic explosive, as well as other explosives.
An analysis of the synthesis process detailed in the Al-Saqri document shows the ratio between the various components required to produce the hydrogen peroxide, and ultimately the TATP, is inaccurate – an insufficient amount of hydrogen peroxide will be produced in the process, and therefore, the TATP synthesis will be unsuccessful.
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