On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:04:30 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

Doug Kanter wrote:
"JohnH" wrote in message
...

This is kind of scary. A later report I heard on CNN said 550 pounds of
plastic explosives were taken. If the stuff isn't found and it is the
hands of the usual nutcases, we're in for some bad news.
This has been on the radio, every hour on the hour, all day long. UPI
didn't have much to add. I
can't figure out why you posted it. The explosive was C-4. Det cord is fun
stuff.
--
John H

It seems to be gone from today's news. Either there's nothing more to add,
or it's just interesting that it's gone.




Here are some details from an ABC report I hadn't previously seen:

Explosives Heist One of the Biggest in Recent History
Officials Say The Material Taken From the New Mexico Area Can Level a
Building

Dec. 20, 2005 — - According to federal officials, the theft of 400
pounds of high-powered plastic explosives in New Mexico is one of the
largest high explosives heists in recent history.

The material was taken from Cherry Engineering, a company owned by Chris
Cherry, a scientist at Sandia National Labs. The site, located outside
Albuquerque, had no guards and no surveillance cameras. It was the
site's second theft in the past two years.

Thieves apparently used blowtorches to cut through the storage trailers
-- suggesting they knew what they were after.

Officials say that the amount of stolen explosives would be enough to
match the bomb that destroyed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995
and they do not know who might be responsible.

"We don't have any suspect," said Wayne Dixie of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms. "We don't have any leads at this point."

The stolen goods include 150 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive and 250
pounds of thin sheets of explosives that could be used in letter bombs.
Also, 2,500 detonators were missing from a storage explosive container,
or magazine, in a bunker owned by Cherry Engineering.

"Believe me, this can cause a catastrophic explosion of unbelievable
proportions in the right configuration," said Jack Cloonan, an ABC News
consultant and former FBI agent. "So it's very dangerous. We have to
find this stuff and find it now."

In anticipation of potential danger, officials sent an alert to federal
buildings and courthouses in New Mexico.

"This is not stuff that you peddle around at the flea market, Cloonan
said. "This is stuff that has specific use."


* * * *

I've seen C4, but I have no idea what a "thin sheet of explosive" that
could be used in a letter bomb looks like or acts like.

The part about the building having no security was interesting. I wonder
if this is the norm.

Imagine C-4 flattened to about 1/8th inch. That should provide an idea. Yesterday's
news said the building met the requirements of the ATF guys. Apparently, surveillance
cameras or live guards are not part of the requirements.
--
John H

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