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Teabags in 21/7 bomb - jury told | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Teabags and artificial nail remover were used to make explosive devices designed to blow up parts of the London transport system, a court heard. | |
Woolwich Crown Court was told that the July 21 terror suspects made TATP explosive in kitchen pans and stored it in a sideboard at one of their homes. | |
The TATP was allegedly used as the detonator for bombs made of hydrogen peroxide and chapatti flour. | |
Six defendants deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. | Six defendants deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. |
'Yellow gelatinous mass' | |
Manfo Asiedu, Muktar Ibrahim, Hussein Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yahya are accused of carrying out the failed attacks as part of an extremist Muslim plot. | Manfo Asiedu, Muktar Ibrahim, Hussein Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yahya are accused of carrying out the failed attacks as part of an extremist Muslim plot. |
The head of the Forensic Explosives Laboratory in Kent said the events on July 21 were immediately compared to those of two weeks before when 52 people died. | |
Clifford Todd, principal forensic investigator, was in charge of dealing with the unknown explosive material. | |
When first alerted to the four scenes of crime he said there was very little scientific evidence to go on. | |
"Uppermost in our minds were the events of July 7. At that time we were reasonably sure that hydrogen peroxide and organic fuels were concerned in that case. | |
"It looked as though it might be similar, but we had no actual evidence." | |
The forensic specialist, who has 20 years of experience, said he had never come across hydrogen peroxide-based bombs before. | |
Mr Todd took the decision to destroy the bulk of the unexploded material because it was considered so dangerous. | |
He told the court one colleague had died and another was seriously injured in the past when dealing with similar "novel" devices. | |
The majority of the charge, described as a yellow gelatinous mass, was destroyed at a site in Biggin Hill, Kent. | |
Plastic squeezy bottle | |
Earlier Keith Ritchie, from the Forensic Explosives Laboratory in Fort Halstead, Kent, told the jury he had found traces of TATP [triacetone triperoxide] at Mr Mohammed's home in west London. | |
He discovered 411 nanograms in the plumbing tubes running out from the kitchen sink. | He discovered 411 nanograms in the plumbing tubes running out from the kitchen sink. |
One nanogram is the equivalent of a 1,000 millionth of a gram, the jury was told. | One nanogram is the equivalent of a 1,000 millionth of a gram, the jury was told. |
Mr Ritchie said TATP was a primary high explosive which, although not commercially available, could be made from a mix of hydrogen peroxide and acetone to which acid is added. | Mr Ritchie said TATP was a primary high explosive which, although not commercially available, could be made from a mix of hydrogen peroxide and acetone to which acid is added. |
Scientists were shown a photograph of a plastic squeezy bottle found in Mr Omar's flat - the alleged "bomb factory" at Curtis House, New Southgate, north London. | Scientists were shown a photograph of a plastic squeezy bottle found in Mr Omar's flat - the alleged "bomb factory" at Curtis House, New Southgate, north London. |
Evidence of green sulphuric acid was found in the bottle, which had a special nozzle attached. | Evidence of green sulphuric acid was found in the bottle, which had a special nozzle attached. |
George Carter-Stephenson, defence counsel for Mr Ibrahim, said the acetone the defendants had used was taken from an artificial nail remover solution with the brand name Pretty Woman. | |
He argued the acetone was not as pure as that used by the laboratory and therefore not as effective. | |
Mr Ritchie told the court the efficiency of the TATP could also be affected by hot weather. | |
The trial was adjourned until Monday. |