The arrested ISIS sympathisers were not only trying to make a bomb but some sort of “chemical weapon” too that would release toxic gases, the police said.
The arrested ISIS sympathisers were not only trying to make a bomb but some sort of “chemical weapon” too that would release toxic gases, the police said.
According to sources in the police department, 5-6 kg of Urea Nitrate was kept ready by the terror suspects to prepare IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). A bomb defusing expert of the Telangana state police said, “Accused Ibrahim Yazdani, his brother Ilyas Yazdani and Fahad used urea (Ammonium Nitrate) and Nitric Acid to prepare Urea Nitrate in the storeroom of their house in Chandrayanagutta. The Urea Nitrate was ready to use and during an explosion, it would have produced toxic fumes like oxides of nitrogen which are harmful to humans. Within an area of 50 metres to 100 metres radius, people who inhale the fumes become unconscious. They are chemical weapons too.”
Sources in the Central Forensic Science Laboratory said they are yet to receive the samples from the NIA. However, preliminary examinations by state police experts have confirmed it as Urea Nitrate, a white chemical found in bottles as Nitric Acid and another chemical as Hydrogen Peroxide, used to make TATP, the ingredient for making bombs.
An investigating official said, “They had downloaded online tutorials from the Internet and from YouTube sent by ISIS handler Shafi Armar. Urea Nitrate is relatively stable and ready to be used to construct an IED. NIA and the police averted a major terror strike. There are two types of ingredients, one to make TATP, which was used in Brussels and Paris attacks, and the other one is similar to that used in the first attack on the World Trade Centre in Manhattan. In these type of bombs, even cyanide gas can be used for extra punch, which would be lethal.” “The accused used to melt the Urea at 152°C. Gas stoves, masks, gloves and utensils used by them indicate that they made the Urea Nitrate. It can be easily ignited and burns vigorously to generate toxic oxides of nitrogen,” said the bomb expert of the police.
