Pressure Cooker Bombs (PCBS) Blasted Boston–Terrorists Use PCBS In Afghanistan, India And Packistan

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ROLL CALL RELEASE

 In Collaboration with the ITACG

(U) Prepared by the DHS/I&A Homeland Counterterrorism Division, the FBI/Directorate of Intelligence, and the Interagency Threat Assessment and CoordinationGroup. This product is intended to assist federal, state, local, and private sector first responders in developing deterrence, prevention, preemption, or responsestrategies.

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This document is UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U//FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under theFreedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). It is to be controlled, stored, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating toFOUO information and is not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid need to know without prior approval of anauthorized DHS official. State and local homeland security officials may share this document with private sector security officials without further approval from DHS.

1 July 2010

(U) Pressure Cookers as IED Components

(U//FOUO) Rudimentary improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using pressure cookers to containthe initiator, switch, and explosive charge (typically ammonium nitrate or RDX) frequently havebeen used in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Pressure cookers are common in thesecountries, and their presence probably would not seem out of place or suspicious to passersby orauthorities. Because they are less common in the United States, the presence of a pressure cookerin an unusual location such as a building lobby or busy street corner should be treated assuspicious.

(U) Examples of Recent Attacks Involving Pressure Cooker Devices 

(U//FOUO) One of the three devices used in the 1 May 2010 attack in Times Squareincorporated a pressure cooker containing approximately 120 firecrackers.—

 (U//FOUO) In March 2010, terrorists used a remotely detonated pressure cooker bomb in anattack on World Vision International in Pakistan.

(U) Indicators of Pressure Cooker Devices

 (U//FOUO) Terrorists can exploit the innocuous appearance of easily transportable items such aspressure cookers to conceal IED components. Placed carefully, such devices provide little or noindication of an impending attack. Alertness and quick reaction to discovery of such concealmentdevices in unusual locations or cirumstances can improve chances of early detection and prevention of an attack. Potential indicators of a pressure cooker configured as an IED include:—

(U) Protruding wires or fuses.—

 (U) Unusual smells such as chemical odors.—

(U) Wetness or unusual stains on a container.—

 (U) Apparent abandonment of a pressure cooker in a high traffic or otherwise strategic location. 

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(U//FOUO) Pressure Cooker IEDs.

 (U) DHS provides detailed information for law enforcement on improvised explosive devices at TRIPwire.dhs.gov or the TRIPwire Community Gateway (http://cs.hsin.gov). For further information on TRIPwire and bombing prevention, contact theDHS Office for Bombing Prevention at

[email protected].