Periodic Reporting for period 2 - INHERIT (INHibitors, Explosives and pRecursor InvesTigation)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-10-31
Terrorist attacks within the EU have highlighted the persistent threat posed by HMEs to the society. INHERIT relied on five categories of countermeasures that are linked to the terrorism timeline. Restrictions, dilution and inhibition were addressed in the research. The EU precursor legislation is one example of a step in the disruption of the timeline. This action serves to restrict the availability of a precursor, either by a ban, a concentration limit, or through requested reporting of suspicious transaction to authorities. Mandating dilution of a precursor, or reporting requirements of its purchase, allows for normal use, while disrupting illicit application. Markers and their detection was addressed, where commercial products were assessed in different scenarios in order to develop knowledge on how to ease detection at critical infrastructures. Pre-blast Forensics was addressed since novel forensic methods and tools allow intelligence and law enforcement agencies to prevent attacks with energetic materials before they can be executed. INHERIT also included the relation to different scenarios in which these emerging countermeasures can be used. These were assessed with its own methodology (evaluation framework) and also toxicology assessments of the inhibitors. INHERIT has also tackled legal and ethical considerations and dissemination activities.
Inhibition research is about to put additives in precursors that aims to hinder the production of a HME. IEDs based on peroxide compounds have become a preferred choice among terrorist organisations worldwide where two examples are triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD). The research has resulted in the development of much knowledge on inhibition for TATP and HMTD where this countermeasure is considered very important since an optimal performance of an inhibitor will make explosive production impossible.
For markers and their detection, fertiliser based precursors have been the focus of this research. Mainly Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags in different sizes were explored and tested in different scenarios where markers have been concealed to different degrees as well as the marked target has been static or moving.
The work in the area of pre-blast forensics provided a number of publications. The research have addressed for example potassium perchlorate and erythritol tetranitrate (ETN). New sampling protocols have been developed and are currently in use to support forensic casework.
INHERIT has created training materials for law enforcement agencies. These written materials were distributed at the final INHERIT workshop. The consortium, along with the INHERIT advisory board and participating law enforcement agencies, facilitated the dissemination. The training materials are available post-project through a deliverable or as separate training materials.
The training material encompassed sampling techniques for substances like chlorates and perchlorates on hands and in vehicles. Analysing these samples can help determine if suspects have been in contact with pyrotechnics potentially used illicitly. Also, the materials provide law enforcement agencies with knowledge on using markers and their detection. RFID tags are highlighted as a tool for monitoring suspects or packages at critical infrastructures. These tags are commercially available, cost-effective, and easy to use.
Several collaborative efforts with other projects like ODYSSEUS, i-LEAD and MELCHIOR were carried out. Through this partnership, the INHERIT project placed a strong emphasis on identifying synergies to enhance integrated research in this field.
Numerous publications and participation to more than 30 events such as conferences, symposia, meetings and workshops ensured the needed dissemination of the work carried out.
• Identification of two non-regulated precursors that can be made into energetic materials. Precursors (energetic mixtures) tested via sensitivity and performance tests.
• Inhibition that prevents crystallisation of TATP achieved.
• Novel sampling and analysis methods developed and in use for support to forensic caseworks.
• The evaluation framework developed within INHERIT allowed for a broader range of assessments by integrating both qualitative and quantitative data. It considered economic impacts, such as those on the supply chain and retail market. It aided in creating valid metrics and benchmarks and facilitated ongoing training to keep skills aligned with new trends and technologies. The capability allowed for the estimation of countermeasure effectiveness and the identification of risks within a realistic context, all while maintaining a manageable time and cost.