Explosives Linked to London Plot Found

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August 17, 2006 3:31 PM

A suitcase containing the powerful homemade high explosive HMTD and other bomb making components was found cached in the woods near High Wycombe, London, according to sources close to the London airline plot investigation.

ABC News has learned it is one of several discoveries in recent days near the area where several of the suspects lived. Sources say other discoveries include the precursor chemicals to making this explosive, which can be made from easily purchased materials used in cooking, camping and a variety of household products. Authorities are intensely looking for other buried caches of bomb making materials which they suspect are going to be found in the woods.

The explosive found in the suitcase is HMTD, which is very easy to detonate through heat, shock or friction. It is often used in blasting caps and other primary charges -- that is the smaller charges used to detonate larger charges -- such as a commercially made plastic explosive. In this case, however, it is currently believed to be an explosive used as a main charge.

Investigators say that the fact the alleged plotters hid the explosive far away from the place of manufacturer is a clear demonstration of lessons learned from the July 2005 bombings. In that case, more than 19,500 separate pieces of evidence were found, including more than 1,000 fingerprints in the apartments where bombs were assembled. In a corollary, the IRA wiped down apartments, and occasionally authorities found a single partial print -- because the bombers went so far as to wipe the undersides of sinks, tables, toilets.

In this case, investigators say searches of the households had yielded very little or no forensic evidence linking the alleged plotters to the devices.   British authorities have not commented on specific evidence found during searches.