Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

INHibitors, Explosives and pRecursor InvesTigation

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - INHERIT (INHibitors, Explosives and pRecursor InvesTigation)

Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-10-31

The terrorism timeline consists of multiple phases, where all phases possess vulnerabilities that can be used to disrupt an attack. The terrorism timeline that can have a wide span over years or smaller time windows such as weeks and days provides different opportunities for countermeasures. In general, the time available for counteracting an attack might decrease as the respective timeline phases approaches the execution phase. For the planning and financing phases, monitoring activities are for example surveillance of suspicious money transactions, or suspects’ travel patterns. In the earlier phases, detection of explosives at border controls can be one way to hinder their further use for malicious intents elsewhere. An attack with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) implies that the antagonist’s possession of the explosive is the key element. It is apparent that without the explosive there can be no bomb or IED used as a weapon. In order to obtain the explosive, theft of civilian or military explosives can be the option of choice. The precursors can also be purchased locally with the aim to make HMEs (Home Made Explosives) at a place within a close proximity to the target thus without the need to cross national borders with the chemicals. Consumer grade chemicals are known to be used in producing HMEs for attacks with IEDs. In the case of HMEs, there is a need to have a safe haven to produce the explosive where also the IED need to be assembled. The time needed for the preparation phase will depend on the type and amount of explosive to manufacture. In the case stolen explosives are used, the time needed for the preparation to IED assembly phase might decrease. Once the IED is packaged, there is a need to transport it to the target and the time available to counteract can be smaller. Initiation of the IED can be imminent once on arrival to the target or time delayed with the purpose to achieve another timing with respect to harming the society.

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.
In the project, emerging HMEs and new non-regulated precursors have been identified. The properties and sensitivities were experimentally assessed. For one of the non-regulated precursors, dilution studies were performed to provide information at what concentration level the precursor no longer exhibit energetic properties.

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.
From the outcome of the INHERIT work, new knowledge were produced and the following examples of impacts can be highlighted:
• 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.
INHERIT concept
My booklet 0 0