TriAcetone TriPeroxide (TATP)



TriAcetone TriPeroxide, or TATP is a highly unstable component of many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used by 21st century terrorists.  The compound is ususally found in the shape of a fuse rope and is used to act as a pimer for the high explosive -- for instance RDX or other bursting high explosive.  TATP can be manufactured relatively easy and can be manufactured from easily obtained househould chemicals and materials. TATP and other heat and flame producing explosive materials are used by terrorists because the use of a battery and wires is not required to achieve ignition and thus the explosive device can be snuck past metal detectors.  However, sniffing devices such as electronic sniffers and animals (i.e. bomb detecting trained dogs) may be able to detect microscopic residue of the bomb's various materials.